Fresh revelations have surfaced over the tragic death of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a news anchor and producer with Arise Television, who died following an armed robbery attack at her residence in Abuja in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. at Unique Apartments, a 16-flat four-storey building in Katampe, when about 15 armed men stormed the premises.
Security personnel on duty said they alerted the police during the raid but reportedly received no response.
One of the guards on duty was assaulted and sustained serious injuries. Both the guard and Maduagwu—popularly known as “Sommie”—were rushed to Maitama District Hospital, where they later died.
Relatives alleged that hospital staff initially declined treatment because the victims’ identification documents were not immediately available, a delay they believe contributed to their deaths.
On Tuesday, Arise Television aired a special tribute programme titled “Sommie Maduagwu: A Life Cut Short”, where colleagues described her as a bright, passionate professional whose life ended too soon.
During The Morning Show, presenter Ojinika Okpe emotionally recalled details of the incident saying: “She jumped down from her home when she heard about 14 armed robbers came to her home. She did not die on the spot. She went to the hospital, and she was rejected. Her life could have been saved, but the hospital rejected her.”
Reuben Abati, co-anchor and former presidential spokesperson, called for a full investigation into the actions of the medical staff at Maitama District Hospital, as well as the apparent security lapses.
Maduagwu, born December 26, 1995, was also a trained lawyer before transitioning into broadcast journalism.
Her sudden death has sparked outrage, with many Nigerians calling for accountability over both the robbery and the alleged negligence in medical response.
Source: TheCable
