Federal Capital Territory police have rounded up 12 alleged members of an armed robbery syndicate tied to the fatal robbery that claimed the life of 29-year-old ARISE News anchor Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami, authorities announced Thursday, with officers recovering weapons and stolen phones from the suspects.

The arrests, detailed in a statement from FCT Police Command spokesperson, mark a breakthrough in the September 29 case at Unique Apartments in Gishiri Village, Katampe District.

Maduagwu, known professionally as Sommie, was at home when intruders stormed the building early that morning, overpowering Danlami at the gate and ransacking units. In a desperate bid to escape, she leaped from her third-floor balcony, surviving the fall initially but eventually succumbing to injuries after treatment delays.

Police say the gang, notorious for high-risk heists in the capital, faces charges of armed robbery, murder and conspiracy.

Investigators recovered three locally made pistols, two machetes and several mobile devices believed pilfered during the spree.

The tragedy drew swift condemnation and tributes from colleagues, with ARISE News confirming her passing and President Bola Tinubu offering condolences, calling it a "senseless loss of young talent."

Maduagwu, a producer and on-air personality since joining the network in 2022, was remembered for her sharp reporting on social issues; peers shared stories of her warmth and drive, while calls mounted for better security in upscale neighborhoods plagued by break-ins.

Danlami, a father of three from Nasarawa State, had worked the post for two years, leaving his family in grief.

No motive beyond theft has surfaced, though police probe links to broader crime rings exploiting Abuja's construction boom and lax patrols. The suspects, aged 22 to 38 and hailing from various states, remain in custody as forensics wrap up.