Arise TV anchor Sommie, who dreamt of political career, buried in Agulu

It was an emotional moment in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, when the remains of Arise TV anchor, Ms Somtochukwu Maduagwu, popularly known as ‘Sommie,’ were laid to rest over the weekend.

The air was thick with grief as friends, family and colleagues gathered around the graveside to honour the 29-year-old presenter, who once dreamt of a political career.

Among the prominent individuals who attended the burial was Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, who seized the opportunity to address the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria.

The late Arise News presenter died in September 2025 during an armed robbery attack at her residence in Abuja. She was said to have jumped from her three-storeyed building to avoid being attacked by gun-wielding armed robbers.

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Mr Obi urged President Bola Tinubu to fix insecurity in the nation, describing Maduagwu’s death as a painful reflection of the country’s worsening security situation.

Obi, who also hails from Agulu, said it was impossible to question God, noting that Sommie’s death was a huge loss. “When I heard of her death, I didn’t know that she was from Agulu even before I tweeted about it. Our coming here will help to console you, but we know that this loss is a huge one. It is the wish of God, and none of us can question Him. Please do remember her and her immediate family in your prayers.”

The opposition politician revealed that before leaving Birmingham, the United Kingdom, on Friday, he had told some friends that he was rushing back to Nigeria for the burial of one of her daughters, asking everyone to pray for the repose of Sommie’s soul.

Delivering a homily during the Mass, Rev. Fr. Peter Ezewuzie of St. Theresa’s Parish, urged the family to take heart and solace in the fact that Sommie lived a meaningful and impactful life.

“He (God) is an all-knowing Father, so I urge you to grieve less. God, who gave Christelle Somtoo Maduagwu to your family, loves her more than you do. The only thing you owe her is to continue to remember her in your prayers. She is in a better place today and will always remember us too.

“The maturity of life is the quality of life lived and not how long, and we can be sure that our sister lived a quality life. Let us strive to live our lives well. We are not here by chance; there is someone who brought us here and expects that we live good lives because no one knows when it will be their time.”

The deceased’s uncle, Mr Obi Maduagwu, thanked those who stood by the family since Sommie’s passing.

“We thank the management of Arise News. They have been with us right from the beginning. We thank all who journeyed all the way to be with us.”

How Sommie died

There were different accounts regarding how the journalist and lawyer died. Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Mr Ajao Adewale, claimed that Sommie jumped to her death.

“Regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident, to set the record straight, some hoodlums, armed robbers, specifically gained access into Unique Apartment, where Sommie lives. It is a three-story twin building with 18 flats around the Gishiri axis of Katampe, under the Mabushi Divisional Area. At this point, two guards were on duty, security men,” he had explained, as reported by Premium Times.

“These are private guards, and one of them, who dared to challenge, sustained a gunshot. Under these conditions, panic would have resulted from this kind of environment. Sommie actually occupied an apartment on the topmost floor of the building. And out of fear, she jumped down from that third story, the top floor. The consequences are what we are seeing. It’s so sad, so unfortunate.”

However, during a Tuesday edition of ‘The Morning Show’ on Arise TV, Dr Reuben Abati, alongside his colleagues, Ms Ojy Okpe and Mr Rufai Oseni, ascribed Sommie’s death to hospital negligence, police unprofessionalism, and systemic government failure.

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“I always tell people around me that our job is very dangerous, and we don’t know the pathways it can lead to. It can lead to a path of death, but, unfortunately, a young lady of 29 with a future ahead of her has fallen,” Dr Abati said.

“She’s been taken to the hospital along with others, and again, this is an issue about the law in Nigeria. There’s a law that says anybody who is a victim of an accident, armed robbery attacks, or gunshot wounds should be treated immediately, but these persons who were involved, including our Sommie, were taken to the hospital, but the hospital refused to treat them because the staff were looking for identification.

“It is the duty of doctors and nurses to stay faithful to the Hippocratic Oath, which is to save lives. I hope the hospital is properly identified, and sanctioned, where appropriate,” Dr Abati added.