Fresh Details Emerge on How Arise News Staff Somtochukwu Was Killed in Abuja Robbery, as NFSS, Police Arrest Five Suspects

• Fresh details have emerged on the killing of Arise News staff member Somtochukwu Maduagwu during a robbery attack in Abuja.

• The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) says its operatives, working with the Nigeria Police Force, have arrested five suspects linked to the incident, recovering arms and ammunition from their hideout.

The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) has announced that its operatives played a crucial role in assisting the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to apprehend a gang of armed robbery suspects connected to the killing of an Arise News staff member, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a hotel security guard, Barnabas Danlami, during a violent robbery attack in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday, the Assistant Commander General, North Central Zonal Command of NFSS, Abdulhakeem Ibrahim, said the joint operation led to the arrest of five suspects who had been terrorising Zuba and its surrounding areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to Ibrahim, the operation was launched after two consecutive attacks by the gang on a popular hotel in Zuba, prompting the police to deploy NFSS operatives to mount a checkpoint near the facility.

“When the suspects returned for another operation, they ran into our checkpoint and fled after a brief chase, abandoning their driver who was later apprehended and handed over to the police,” Ibrahim explained.

He disclosed that further investigations led to the arrest of additional gang members and the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one pump-action gun, and a Beretta pistol from their hideout.

Ibrahim praised the strong collaboration between the NFSS and the police, describing it as essential to maintaining community safety and boosting grassroots intelligence.

“The police cannot do without us, and we cannot do without the police — that is how we work,” he stated.

He appealed to the Federal Government to grant the NFSS legal recognition, noting that such support would enable the organisation to make more significant contributions to national security efforts.

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The NFSS commander commended the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, and other security agencies for their synergy in joint operations across the North Central region, while thanking the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for recognising the NFSS’s contributions to the nation’s security architecture.

He also lauded the Commander General of NFSS, Dr. Joshua Osatimehin, and the Deputy Commander-General (Intelligence), Dr. John Metchie, for their leadership and operational support.

“Our operatives are risking their lives to assist formal security agencies. We are asking for support to continue doing our job,” Ibrahim added.

The NFSS reiterated its readiness to continue supporting the country’s security agencies in combating armed robbery, terrorism, and other criminal activities threatening peace and stability across Nigeria.