- Laid to rest in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
- Obi decries insecurity, demands more action by government
It was uncontrollable tears on display Saturday as the remains of the late Arise Television news anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, popularly called “Sommie,” were laid to rest in her hometown of Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The burial had in attendance journalists, top government officials, and members of the Agulu community, who gathered to pay their last respects to the promising journalist and rising media personality whose life was tragically cut short in an armed robbery incident that took place in her Abuja residence last September.
This is as the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who attended the solemn ceremony that evoked memories of Sommie’s dashed brilliance, hope and humility. alongside the deceased’s family members, friends, colleagues, and other dignitaries, condemned the alarming spate of insecurity in the country.
In a chat with reporters after the Mass, Obi, who also hails from Agulu, described Maduagwu’s death as heartbreaking and a painful reflection of the country’s worsening security situation.
According to the former Anambra State Governor, the government cannot continue to lay lip service to the safety and security of Nigerians while the criminal elements are allowed to enjoy free rein of visiting terror on innocent citizens across the country.
Reflecting on the unfortunate incident, Obi said, “We cannot question God. When I heard of her death, I didn’t know that she was from Agulu even before I tweeted about it. Our coming here will help to console you, but we know that this loss is a huge one.
“It is the wish of God, and none of us can question Him. Please do remember her and her immediate family in your prayers.
“Before I left Birmingham yesterday, I told some people that I was rushing back to Nigeria for the burial of one of my daughters. I told them to remember to pray for her all the time as she will be buried today.”
In delivering a homily during the Mass, the presiding priest, Reverend Fr. Peter Ezewuzie of St. Theresa’s Parish consoled the bereaved family, urging them to take solace in the belief that Maduagwu lived a meaningful and impactful life.
He said, “The Lord who created us knows the beginning from the end. He is all-knowing, and some of you may be unhappy that a life has been cut short, but you won’t know if that is how God planned it.
“He (God) is an all-knowing Father, so I urge you to grieve less. God, who gave Christelle Somtoo Maduagwu to your family, loves her more than you do. The only thing you owe her is to continue to remember her in your prayers. She is in a better place today and will always remember us too.
“The maturity of life is the quality of life lived and not how long, and we can be sure that our sister lived a quality life. Let us strive to live our lives well. We are not here by chance; there is someone who brought us here and expects that we live good lives because no one knows when it will be their time.”
Also speaking at the occasion, Somtochukwu’s uncle, Obi Maduagwu, commended Arise News Channel for standing by the family since her passing.
He said, “We thank the management of Arise News. They have been with us right from the beginning. We thank all who journeyed all the way to be with us.”
Maduagwu, who was killed during an armed robbery attack at her residence in Abuja in September 2025, was committed to mother earth at about 1:30 p.m. after a funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Agulu.
Indeed, her unfortunate and painful death sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s media community with reports indicating that the robbers stormed her Abuja residence at night, where said she allegedly jump from the storey building and was later confirmed dead at a nearby hospital.
Meanwhile, tributes have not stopped pouring in from prominent Nigerians, colleagues, friends, and well-wishers, who described the late journalist as intelligent, hardworking, and full of promise.
