Abuja court hears testimony on murder of Arise News journalist

A police witness testified at the FCT High Court in Abuja that journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu was pushed to her death from a two-storey building during an armed robbery at Unique Apartments in Katampe.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Douglas Ishaku, testifying on September 29, stated that the incident, which occurred one year prior, also resulted in the death of security guard Barnabas Danlami. Ishaku testified that the first defendant, Shamsu Hassan, allegedly shot Danlami using a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle. Another defendant, Sani Surajo, was linked to a foreign-made pump-action rifle recovered by police.

The testimony countered previous narratives suggesting Maduagwu had jumped from the building due to anxiety. The ongoing trial involves 11 suspects accused of murder and armed robbery, described by investigators as members of a larger criminal syndicate operating in Abuja. While several defendants are in custody, one suspect identified as Dogo remains at large.