Fresh details have emerged regarding the tragic death of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, the 29-year-old Arise News anchor who lost her life during an armed robbery attack in Abuja on Monday, September 29, 2025.
Contrary to earlier reports suggesting she was shot, an eyewitness has disclosed that Maduagwu’s death was the result of a fatal accident triggered by fear.
According to the account, the journalist panicked during a door-to-door robbery in her Katampe residence and leapt from her third or fourth-floor balcony in an attempt to escape. She suffered a fractured skull from the fall, which led to her death.
“She was not shot. It was an accidental and tragic death,” the eyewitness said.
“She got scared during the robbery, jumped off her balcony, fractured her skull. She was scared of what the bastards could do to her. Painful, painful death.”
The source further lamented what he described as a failure of emergency response services in the high-brow estate.
He said, “Emergency services failed her. No ambulance. Police arrived claiming no fuel to drive to the hospital.
“This is the same community where homes carry over $1 million price tags!
“Why should I pay that much for property and not get top-notch services from my government?”
The death of Maduagwu, fondly known as “Sommie,” has sparked widespread grief within the Nigerian media industry and renewed public anger over the state of insecurity and inadequate emergency response in Abuja.
Born on December 26, 1995, Maduagwu was celebrated as a rising star in broadcast journalism, admired for her poise, intellect, and professionalism.
At Arise News, she worked as a news anchor, reporter, and producer, and was also a trained lawyer.
In a statement, Arise News Channel described her as “a cherished member of its newsroom” and extended condolences to her family, colleagues, and friends, while calling on authorities to ensure the perpetrators of the robbery are swiftly apprehended and prosecuted.
Her death has reignited national conversations on insecurity and the urgent need for reliable emergency infrastructure in Nigeria’s capital city.
