A new investigation has revealed shocking lapses in police response that contributed to the tragic death of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, the 29-year-old Arise News Channel anchor, reporter, and producer, during an armed robbery at her Katampe residence on September 29, 2025.

The report, published by Sahara Reporters on September 30, 2025, details how delays and negligence by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command turned a survivable attack into a fatal outcome, sparking widespread outrage and demands for accountability amid Nigeria’s escalating insecurity crisis.

In a heartfelt official statement, Arise News Channel confirmed the devastating loss, describing Maduagwu as “a cherished member of the ARISE News family” whose “voice is now silent but her spirit, passion and legacy will endure as part of our collective memory.”

 

The Incident: A Night of Horror in Katampe

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Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, affectionately known as “Sommie,” was attacked in the early hours of Monday, September 29, by a gang of armed robbers who stormed her apartment in the upscale Katampe area of Abuja.

Eyewitnesses and family sources described a brutal invasion involving up to 15 assailants who ransacked the home, assaulted occupants, and fled with valuables including cash, electronics, and jewelry.

A neighbor, Sani Yusuf, who was the first victim in the building, recounted hearing screams and gunshots before rushing to assist, only to find Maduagwu critically injured from gunshot wounds and severe trauma.

According to the Sahara Reporters exposé, the initial police response was woefully inadequate.
Despite frantic distress calls to the FCT Police Command’s emergency lines, officers arrived over 45 minutes later—long after the robbers had escaped. Upon arrival at the hospital, Maduagwu was allegedly denied immediate treatment due to bureaucratic hurdles, including demands for irrelevant documentation and payment upfront, exacerbating her critical condition. She succumbed to her injuries hours later, leaving behind a grieving family, colleagues, and a nation mourning the loss of a rising star in journalism.

 

The FCT Police Command, in a statement on September 30, confirmed the incident and announced a “discreet investigation” into the robbery and subsequent death, vowing to apprehend the perpetrators.

Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh described the killing as “regrettable” but maintained it was a random armed robbery, not a targeted assassination, though sources close to the family have raised suspicions of foul play given Maduagwu’s high-profile reporting on sensitive issues like gender-based violence and women’s rights.

FCT Commissioner of Police CP Ajao Adewale has ordered the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and Special Intelligence Unit to take over the case, with tactical, intelligence, and forensic teams deployed.

 

Sommie’s Legacy: From Pageant Queen to Fearless Advocate

Born on December 26, 1995, in Anambra State, Somtochukwu Maduagwu was a barrister by training and a beacon of inspiration in Nigeria’s media landscape.
She first captured national attention in 2023 by winning Miss Tourism Nigeria and representing the country at the Miss Tourism World pageant in Quanzhou, China, where her eloquence and poise earned her accolades.

Joining Arise News in September 2024, she quickly rose as a news anchor, producer, and reporter, blending her legal expertise with journalistic rigor.

 

Maduagwu was a vocal advocate for out-of-school children and a fierce campaigner against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Her most recent coverage included the September 21, 2025, submission of a memorandum for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill at the National Assembly, where she amplified calls for greater female representation in Nigerian politics.
Colleagues described her as “delectable, intelligent, and bold,” a professional who supported her peers and connected deeply with viewers.

Arise News Channel issued a heartfelt tribute on September 29, signed by Hadiza Usman-Ajayi for management, announcing her passing and calling for a “speedy investigation, apprehension and prosecution of the culprits.”

“Sommie’s voice is now silent, but her spirit, passion, and legacy will endure as part of our collective memory,” the statement read.

Maduagwu is survived by her parents, siblings, and extended family.

 

Public Outrage and Calls for Justice

The news of Maduagwu’s death has unleashed a torrent of grief and fury across social media and traditional outlets, with many attributing it to systemic security failures in Nigeria’s capital.

Information Minister Mohammed Idris described the killing as “regrettable” on September 30, extending condolences to Arise TV and the family while urging a thorough probe.
The Federal Government has vowed to investigate, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration labeling the incident “deeply saddening.”

On X (formerly Twitter), tributes poured in from celebrities, activists, and everyday Nigerians. Actress Sommie Maduagwu (no relation) shared a private conversation from last month, expressing heartbreak and praying, “from the depth of my heart that what happened to Nigeria never happens to me or anyone I care about.”

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong lamented, “Nigeria has happened to Sommie,” highlighting the collapse of security architecture.

Another user, @NejeebBello, questioned the official narrative, calling it a “gruesome assassination” rather than a mere robbery, noting the involvement of 15 men.

Critics like @MenaBossBoss urged Arise TV to investigate deeper, insisting, “Someone killed this lady,” while @ADC_Vanguard_ blamed the APC-led government’s security lapses, stating, “Under APC, no Nigerian… is safe in their own home.”

A poignant post from @uzo_agu noted that Maduagwu herself tweeted a similar sentiment a year ago: “May Nigeria not happen to us,” which has since gone viral as a haunting prophecy.

Prominent figures like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar also extended condolences, with Obi calling it a “national tragedy” and Atiku emphasizing the need for justice.

The hashtag #JusticeForSommie trended on X, amassing over 10,000 mentions by midday September 30, with users sharing her impactful stories and demanding reforms.

The INEC Press Corps, through Chairman Lanre Ojumu, expressed profound grief, noting her supportive role in their community.
Rights organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the killing on September 30, urging swift justice and improved protections for media workers.

 

Broader Implications: A Symptom of Systemic Failure

Maduagwu’s death is the latest in a string of high-profile losses to violence in Nigeria, including the unsolved 2019 assassination of activist Omoyele Sowore’s brother and recent attacks on journalists. Rights organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the killing on September 30, urging swift justice and improved protections for media workers.

The incident has reignited debates on urban security, with analysts pointing to underfunded police forces and porous borders as enablers of such crimes. Armed robberies in Abuja have surged 25% in 2025, per police stats, turning even affluent areas like Katampe into hotspots.

As investigations continue, the FCT Police have deployed additional patrols in Katampe, but public trust remains eroded. Maduagwu’s family, in a brief statement, expressed devastation and called for transparency, vowing to pursue justice.

 

Somtochukwu Maduagwu’s untimely death is more than a personal tragedy—it’s a stark indictment of Nigeria’s faltering security apparatus, where even the nation’s capital feels like a warzone. Her advocacy for the vulnerable now amplifies calls for systemic change, reminding us that silence in the face of injustice is complicity.

On September 30, 2025, revelations of police negligence have deepened the sorrow surrounding Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu’s death, transforming grief into a clarion call for accountability.

As Arise TV and her loved ones mourn, Nigeria grapples with the human cost of its failures. May her legacy inspire action, and may justice be swift. Rest in power, Sommie—your voice echoes on.

 

 

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