ABUJA — On the first anniversary of her death, Arise News Channel is remembering its late co-anchor, reporter and producer Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, fondly known as Sommie, who d!ed on September 29, 2025, during an armed robbery attack at her residence in Katampe Extension, Abuja.
Maduagwu, 29, a trained lawyer, model and rising broadcast journalist, was k!lled alongside security guard Barnabas Danlami when a gang of armed robbers invaded Unique Apartments, a multi-storey residential complex in the Katampe area of the Federal Capital Territory, in the early hours of that Monday.
Danlami was shot d3ad while trying to prevent the intruders from gaining access. Maduagwu, who lived on an upper floor, sustained fatal injuries after falling from the building while attempting to escape; accounts from police and witnesses have described both a panic-driven jump and, more recently in court testimony, claims that she was pushed.
Arise News announced her d3ath the following day in a statement signed by Hadiza Usman-Ajayi. “It is with heavy hearts that the management and staff of the ARISE News Channel announce the passing of our beloved colleague, News Anchor, Reporter and Producer, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu,” the statement read. “Sommie, 29, was not only a cherished member of the ARISE News family but also a vibrant voice that engaged and connected with our viewers.”
Colleagues later paid tribute to her professionalism, warmth, dedication, and compassion, noting that she also supported orphanage children and advocated for young women.
Born on December 26, 1995, Maduagwu combined a legal background with broadcasting. She joined Arise News in 2024 after earlier recognition as first runner-up in the Miss Tourism Nigeria pageant and representing Nigeria internationally. She was known for covering legal issues, governance, women’s rights and gender equality, bringing analytical depth and on-air presence to her roles as anchor, reporter and producer.
The attack, which occurred around 3:00–3:30 a.m., involved a large group of armed men who robbed multiple flats in the complex. Neighbours reported hearing gunshots, shouting and a woman’s screams. Maduagwu was found with severe head injuries and was taken to hospital, where she later died. Initial police accounts stated she jumped from the third storey in panic; a police witness in court proceedings in 2026 testified that investigators determined one of the defendants pushed her from the building.
FCT Police arrested multiple suspects linked to the robbery and the two d3aths. Eleven defendants—including Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar (also known as “Small”), Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani and Abubakar Usman—were later arraigned on charges including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and murder.
The case has continued in the FCT High Court, with further proceedings reported around the anniversary period. Exhibits recovered included firearms, ammunition and other items associated with the operation.
Tributes poured in from across Nigeria after her death, including from President Bola Tinubu, the First Lady, state governors, media organisations and the public. Colleagues and friends remembered her as a “shining light,” intelligent, bold and generous. Memorial events, including a service of songs in Port Harcourt and a night of tributes in Abuja, drew family, friends and associates who celebrated her brief but impactful life.
One year on, as the trial of the suspects continues and the nation reflects on persistent security challenges in the capital, Arise News and the wider media community continue to honour Sommie’s memory. Her voice, once a familiar presence connecting viewers to the day’s stories, remains part of the channel’s collective remembrance of a colleague whose career and character left a lasting mark. She is survived by her parents, siblings and extended family.
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