Court Hears Eyewitness Accounts in Murder Trial of ARISE News Journalist

The trial of eleven men accused of murdering ARISE News journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu and estate security guard Barnabas Danlami began on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, with witnesses providing detailed accounts of the night of the armed attack.

The defendants—Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar (“Small”), Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman—were produced from the Kuje Correctional Centre after missing court on Monday. They are facing a nine-count charge including murder, armed robbery, and criminal conspiracy, and all pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution opened its case with testimony from Sani Yusuf, a civil engineer and former resident of Unique Apartments, Katampe, Abuja, who recounted being awakened in the early hours of 29 September 2025 by gunfire, banging at his door, and masked intruders speaking Hausa. Yusuf said the attackers demanded valuables, including his Samsung Galaxy S25 phone and MacBook Air laptop, and tried to force him to transfer money from his phone.

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Yusuf told the court that he heard screams and commotion across multiple apartments, including a female voice calling for help. He discovered that security guard Barnabas Danlami had been shot, and neighbours rushed him to Maitama District Hospital, but he later died. Yusuf also identified his neighbour, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who suffered a fatal head injury and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Another witness, Fatou Toborteh, described how armed men invaded her apartment around 3:00 a.m., taking valuables including phones, cash, a laptop, and car keys for her Honda CR-V. After the attackers fled, she and other residents found a woman lying in blood, later confirmed as Ms Maduagwu.

The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, adjourned the case until 12 February 2026 for continuation of hearings. Witnesses noted that the suspects wore masks, making immediate identification difficult, but their testimonies aim to establish a clear timeline of the crime.

The trial has drawn national attention, highlighting concerns over residential security, violent crime, and the safety of journalists in Nigeria. Media advocacy groups continue to call for enhanced protection measures for reporters, particularly those covering high-risk assignments.

Court Hears Eyewitness Accounts in Murder Trial of ARISE News Journalist

Two Siblings Arrested for Killing Elder Brother, Burying Him in Imo

Shock gripped Umuchimanyiri village, Obazu Mbieri, in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State after it was discovered that two siblings allegedly killed their elder brother, Orindu, and buried him in a shallow grave.

The suspects, identified as Lucky and Uzoma Amadi, were arrested on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. In a bid to conceal the murder, the brothers reportedly told villagers that Orindu had traveled out of the state.

When the truth began to surface, irate youths stormed the residence, forced the suspects to exhume the remains from a shallow grave within their compound, and demanded justice. According to journalist Okeoma Chidiebube, who visited the scene, the skeletal remains were hung around the suspects’ necks as villagers confronted them.

Officers from the Mbieri Divisional Police Headquarters, including the Divisional Police Officer, arrived just in time to rescue the suspects from mob action, recover evidence, and take custody of the remains.

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One of the suspects, a tricycle operator, reportedly claimed that the victim caused the death of their father years ago, which may have contributed to the motive for the alleged crime.

The state police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, has yet to issue an official statement regarding the development. Authorities have assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted, and the suspects will be prosecuted under Nigerian law.

The incident has shaken the Umuchimanyiri community and reignited concerns about family violence, domestic disputes, and the dangers of mob justice in rural communities. Police have urged residents to report crimes through proper channels and allow law enforcement to handle investigations.

Two Siblings Arrested for Killing Elder Brother, Burying Him in Imo

Police Arrest Suspect as Youth Suffers Head Injury in Vigilante Custody

A 20-year-old man, Aliyu Nuhu, has sustained a serious head injury after members of a local vigilante group in Zaria, Kaduna State, allegedly assaulted him over claims that he stole a chicken.

The incident, which has sparked public outrage and renewed condemnation of jungle justice, reportedly occurred in Anguwar Sirdi, Limancin Kona Ward, within Zaria city.

Confirming the incident, the victim’s father, Mallam Salisu Nuhu, popularly known as Babande, accused two vigilante members of inflicting the injuries on his son during interrogation.

According to Babande, he had asked Aliyu to sell a chicken at the market, but the young man was arrested by vigilantes who accused him of theft.

“They detained him and interrogated him with severe punishment,” Babande said, adding that his son was subjected to violent treatment while in their custody.

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He explained that when Aliyu failed to return home, a vigilante member later asked him to follow him to their office, where he was informed that his son had been arrested for allegedly stealing a chicken.

Babande said the vigilantes demanded ₦5,000 as bail, but eventually allowed him to take his son home after he explained that he had no money.

It was only after returning home, he said, that he noticed serious injuries to his son’s head and was informed that a metal nail had been driven into it during the interrogation.

The family immediately returned to the vigilante office and later proceeded to a nearby chemist in the company of one of the suspects, identified simply as Nuhu. The chemist reportedly referred them to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, after assessing the injury.

Babande said they were asked to obtain a police report before treatment could commence at the hospital.

He further disclosed that the object remained lodged in his son’s head for 13 days before doctors were able to surgically remove it, adding that the family spent over ₦800,000 on medical bills.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Aliyu Nuhu identified Nuhu Dan Banga as the vigilante member who allegedly inflicted the injury during interrogation. He said he lost consciousness during the assault.

Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Zaria City Division, Nura Abubakar, said one suspect has been arrested, while another is currently at large.

The DPO assured that the suspects would be prosecuted once investigations are concluded, stressing that mob action and vigilante abuse remain criminal offences under Nigerian law.

The incident has reignited calls for stricter regulation of vigilante groups and increased public awareness on the dangers of mob justice, especially in cases involving minor or alleged offences.

Police Arrest Suspect as Youth Suffers Head Injury in Vigilante Custody