• NGE, rights groups mourn, flay insecurity
• Oluremi grieves over ‘painful, most unfortunate’ loss
• HURIWA faults ‘insistence’ on police report before journalist’s treatment
• FCT Police Command orders investigation

Amid the shock and grief over the tragic death of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a brilliant young lawyer and rising anchor with Arise TV, President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to hunt down those responsible.

Ms Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu, a promising television journalist, was killed during a robbery on Monday at her Katampe residence in Abuja.
Armed robbery in Abuja has been rampant in the last few months. 
 
Robbers are going from estate to estate heavily armed  with Point of Sale (POS) machines that cannot be traced by banks. They rob victims, assault them, and even sexually assault girls.
 
According to sources the lady and the guard were taken to Maitama General Hospital but were not attended to in a timely manner . 
Instead, the hospital insisted that someone should come identify them. By  by the time the person arrived, they were already dead.

Describing the incident as “shocking, wicked, and unacceptable,” the President said Maduagwu’s death had deprived Nigeria of a bright talent and a promising journalist cut down in her prime.

“Ms Maduagwu was a promising professional journalist whose life was cut short in a cruel and condemnable manner,” Tinubu said in a statement on Tuesday. He ordered security and law enforcement agencies to launch an immediate manhunt, stressing that the perpetrators must be apprehended and brought to justice without delay.

The President also extended his condolences to Maduagwu’s family, the management and staff of Arise News, and the wider media community, describing her death as a painful blow to journalism and to the nation. He further assured Nigerians that his administration would continue to strengthen security measures to safeguard lives and property.

Similarly, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed deep grief over the young journalist’s death, calling it “painful and most unfortunate.”

“I woke up to the sad news of the untimely death of one of our young and brilliant minds in the journalism profession, Somtochukwu Maduagwu. Her death is painful and quite unfortunate. She has been cut down in her prime,” she said.

The First Lady extended condolences to the Chairman of Arise Media Group, Chief Nduka Obaigbena, as well as to the bereaved family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones. She prayed that God would grant them the strength to bear the irreplaceable loss and expressed hope that justice would be swift.

“May her soul rest in peace, and may God comfort her family and all who mourn her,” she added. The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) also expressed sadness over Maduagwu’s death, describing her as a talented anchor and reporter who lost her life in a senseless armed robbery at her home .

In a statement issued yesterday by NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the body said that with Somtochukwu’s untimely death, journalism had lost not just a dedicated professional committed to shedding light on important issues and giving voice to the voiceless, but also someone who represented the future of the profession in Nigeria.

“The loss of this dedicated journalist from an armed robbery incident is a stark reminder of the dangers Nigerians face daily in their homes and on the streets.

“We cannot help but reflect on the issue of insecurity that plagues our nation. The increasing frequency of armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, and other violent crimes has created an environment of fear and uncertainty for both citizens and professionals like journalists.

“We demand action from the government to address the root causes of insecurity and take measures to ensure the safety and security of all citizens. We demand that those responsible for Somtochukwu’s death be fished out by security agencies and made to face the full weight of the law.

“At this difficult time, we stand in solidarity with Arise News and the broader journalism community.

“We pray that the memory of this talented young journalist, who died in her prime, inspires excellence in journalism, even in the face of adversity. May the memory of this vibrant journalist be a blessing to all who knew her,” the statement added.

Similarly, human rights groups, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), have condemned the killing of the television star.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, expressed deep sadness over her tragic death. According to him, Maduagwu’s untimely demise is a stark reminder of the systemic failures that continue to plague the country. “The story of her death is a harrowing one, and it is a damning indictment of the systems that are supposed to protect and serve us,” he said, citing Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, which states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

“Somto’s death is a wound that cuts deeply into the conscience of our nation. Hoodlums invaded her apartment, killing the security man who stood his ground. In fear and desperation, Somto leapt from her storey building to escape the violence, sustaining injuries in the process.

“She was rushed to a hospital in Maitama, Abuja, where she was met with bureaucratic indifference. The hospital insisted on a police report before treatment, and in that cruel wait, as life ebbed away, Nigeria killed her,” he said.

HURIWA strongly condemned the negligence of the hospital staff, which it said undoubtedly contributed to her death. The hospital’s insistence on a police report before treatment, it added, was a clear indication of the systemic rot that pervades Nigeria’s healthcare system.

According to reports, many deaths have occurred due to the failure to present a police report before treatment. “It is a system that elevates procedure above humanity, and it is a system that needs to be changed. The Chief Medical Director of Maitama Hospital should be held accountable and sacked immediately for the glaring incompetence that led to Somto’s demise,” HURIWA added.

FENRAD, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, said the brazen killing highlights the growing insecurity in the nation’s capital and the failure of the state to protect its citizens.

The group described the tragedy as a disturbing reflection of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation.

“This cold-blooded killing, taking place at the very heart of Nigeria’s seat of power, raises grave questions about the effectiveness of the country’s security infrastructure and the political will of those tasked with safeguarding lives and property,” the statement said.

“If a journalist, whose work is to inform and hold power accountable, can be killed so brazenly in her home within Abuja, then nowhere in Nigeria can be considered safe.”

FENRAD noted that the killing of Maduagwu mirrors previous violent incidents, including the murder of Emeka Ugwumadu in Abuja, and reflects a pattern of unchecked banditry, kidnappings, and lawlessness across the country.

The group paid tribute to Maduagwu, describing her as more than a journalist. “She was a reporter, producer, anchor, and trained lawyer, an embodiment of youth aspiration and professionalism in the media space. Her killing is an irreparable loss to the journalism profession and to a nation desperate for young leaders of vision, courage, and integrity,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has ordered a discreet and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crime.

Confirming Maduagwu’s death, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ajao Adewale, described the killing as a “cruel and senseless act that has no place in a sane society,” while commiserating with the deceased’s family, colleagues, and friends.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement, quoted the Commissioner as extending his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Ms Maduagwu, who tragically lost her life during an armed robbery incident.

CP Adewale further directed the deployment of intelligence and operational assets to identify, track, and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

He urged residents to support police efforts by providing timely and useful information and to promptly raise the alarm in suspicious situations to prevent similar tragedies.

Adewale assured the public that no effort would be spared in bringing Maduagwu’s killers to justice.
Photos: Somtochukwu and IGP Egbetokun. Captions: Maduagwu and IGP Kayode Egbetokun