The remains of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a talented Arise TV news anchor known as “Sommie,” have been buried in Agulu, Anambra State, amid an outpouring of tributes from family, friends, and colleagues.
Maduagwu, who passed away in September 2025 during an armed robbery attack at her Abuja residence, was remembered for her brilliance, humility, and promise.
Delivering a homily at the burial mass, Reverend Father Peter Ezewuzie consoled the family, saying, “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 he expects that you will live a good life because no one knows when it will be their time.”
Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, attended the burial and described Sommie’s death as “heartbreaking” and a painful reminder of Nigeria’s insecurity. He said:
“We can not 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 God.
Please do remember her and her immediate family in your prayers. Before I left Birmingham yesterday, I told some people who were with me 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,” Obi said.
The family expressed gratitude to Arise News management for their support during this difficult time.
The uncle to the late Sommie, Mr. Obi Maduagwu, 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.”
The burial was attended by journalists, government officials, and community members who paid their last respects to a bright star whose light was cut short.
