Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu was a television news anchor, reporter and producer with ARISE News in Nigeria.
In the early morning hours of September 29, she met a tragic fate during an armed robbery attempt at her residence.
Police told Vanguard NGR that Maduagwu "died after jumping from the top floor of her Katampe apartment during an armed robbery incident." The journalist jumped "from the top floor of the 3-story building and landing on the hard cemented floor," which knocked her unconscious.
She was taken to the hospital and died, the news site reported. According to Vanguard NGR, she was trying to escape from robbers who had evaded private security to enter the Unique Apartment building.
ARISE News confirmed the death in a tribute on X, writing, "Sommie, 29, was not only a cherished member of the ARISE News family but also a vibrant voice that engaged and connected with our viewers. Beyond the airwaves, Sommie was a lawyer who was a professional and supportive colleague and a friend to many."
According to a news release from the FCT Police Command in Nigeria, police Commissioner Ajao S. Adewale "extended his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Ms. Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a News Anchor, Reporter, and Producer with Arise News Channel, who tragically lost her life during an armed robbery incident at her residence in the Katampe area of Abuja in the early hours of Monday, September 29, 2025."
The commissioner described the incident "as a cruel and senseless act that has no place in a sane society" and committed to "ensuring that justice is served."
"To this end, he has ordered a discreet and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident," the news release, which was posted to X by police, said. "He further directed the deployment of intelligence and operational assets to identify, track, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime."
ARISE News also wrote of the news anchor: "The 29-year-old barrister first graced the ARISE News screen as a guest when she participated in and won the Miss Tourism Nigeria pageant. Sommie went on to represent Nigeria at the Miss Tourism World pageant in Quanzhou, China, in 2023."
