The media industry and the nation at large were thrown into mourning on Monday after suspected armed robbers killed a young television journalist, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, at her Abuja residence.
Maduagwu, a 29-year-old lawyer and rising star with ARISE News Channel, was reportedly attacked in the early hours of Monday at Katampe, a highbrow district of the Federal Capital Territory.
Confirming the incident, the management of ARISE News, in a statement signed by Hadiza Usman-Ajayi, described the broadcaster as a “cherished member of the family” whose death left colleagues and viewers devastated.
The statement read in part: “It is with heavy hearts that the management and staff of ARISE News Channel announce the passing of our beloved colleague, News Anchor, Reporter, and Producer, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, who tragically lost her life following an armed robbery incident in her residence in Abuja.
“Sommie, 29, was not only a cherished member of the ARISE News family but also a vibrant voice that connected deeply with our viewers. We call for a thorough investigation and swift prosecution of the culprits.”
Tributes have since flooded social media. One X user, Bright Goku, lamented: “This is heartbreaking. If this can happen in Abuja, one can only imagine the insecurity in other states. The government must act now.”
Another user, Iyke, said: “Her death at just 29 is a painful reminder of Nigeria’s insecurity cutting down promising lives. Justice must follow this tragedy.”
On Facebook, residents of Abuja questioned the lapses that allowed the attack. Oyedele Oyedola wrote: “This must be properly investigated. How did robbers gain access to Katampe, with security operatives stationed everywhere?”
When contacted, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident and disclosed that investigations had begun. “We are aware, and we are investigating,” she told PUNCH Metro.
The killing of Maduagwu adds to a string of violent crimes recorded in the FCT in recent months. In May, suspected gang members invaded Efab Global Estate in the Idu Industrial Area, injuring five security guards and robbing several homes. Last week, four members of a robbery syndicate linked to the killing of a popular disc jockey, Bashir Dauda, were arrested by the police.
