... she died after rejection, colleagues reveal
President Bola Tinubu, Niger State Governor Umaru Bago and several prominent Nigerians have mourned the tragic death of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu ‘Sommie’ Maduagwu, who lost her life after a robbery attack at her residence in Katampe, Abuja.
The 29-year-old journalist and lawyer was reported to have jumped from her home in a desperate attempt to escape when 14 armed robbers invaded her building. According to her colleagues at Arise TV, she survived the fall but later died after being denied medical treatment by hospital staff.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Tuesday, anchors Ojy Okpe and Reuben Abati described her death as “preventable.” Okpe lamented: “She did not die on the spot. She was taken to the hospital, but she was rejected. Sommie’s life could have been saved, but the hospital refused to treat her.”
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu condemned the killing as “cruel and condemnable.” He described Maduagwu as a promising professional whose passing is a loss not only to her family and Arise News, but to the entire nation. The president directed security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.
Governor Umaru Bago, in a condolence message through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, also decried the incident, calling it “an act of man’s wickedness to man.” He praised Maduagwu’s impact as a lawyer, entrepreneur, and journalist despite her short life, and urged law enforcement to ensure justice.
Maduagwu’s death has sparked widespread grief and outrage, with many Nigerians taking to social media to demand accountability from both security agencies and the medical sector.
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