Tears flowed freely on Saturday as friends, colleagues and family gathered in Agulu, Anambra State, to bid farewell to Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu, the late Arise Television news anchor killed in an armed robbery attack in Abuja last month.
The 28-year-old broadcaster was buried in her hometown in Anaocha Local Government Area following a funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, where hundreds turned out to honour her brief but remarkable life.
Among those present was Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who described her death as “heartbreaking” and a tragic reflection of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Obi, himself a native of Agulu, said: “We cannot question God. When I heard of her death, I didn’t know she was from Agulu even before I tweeted about it. This is a huge loss, not just for her family, but for all of us. Please continue to remember her and her loved ones in your prayers.”
He recalled leaving the UK early to attend the burial. “Before I left Birmingham yesterday, I told some people I was rushing back to Nigeria for the burial of one of my daughters,” he said.
During the Mass, Rev. Fr. Peter Ezewuzie urged mourners to find comfort in faith, saying Maduagwu had lived “a meaningful and impactful life.”
“The maturity of life is not in its length but in its quality,” he said. “Christelle Somtoo Maduagwu lived a quality life. God, who gave her to you, loves her even more. She is in a better place.”
Her uncle, Obi Maduagwu, expressed gratitude to Arise News for standing by the family. “They have been with us right from the beginning. We thank all who travelled far to be with us,” he said.
Maduagwu’s killing in September shocked Nigeria’s media industry. According to reports, gunmen broke into her Abuja home at night, and she was later confirmed dead in hospital.
Tributes have since poured in from journalists, friends and public figures who described her as intelligent, diligent and full of promise.
Saturday’s burial drew journalists, government officials and residents of Agulu, all united in mourning a rising media star whose life and career were cut short by violence — a familiar tragedy in a nation still struggling to keep its citizens safe.
