The home of a beloved young Black TV anchor was invaded last month by violent robbers. And the devastating decision she made to save her life has her family, colleagues, and a community heartbroken.
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It was early Monday (Sept. 29) when Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a 29-year-old Nigerian news anchor and producer, was at her home when robbers invaded her apartment. She lived at the Unique Apartments complex, which was guarded by two private security guards, in the Katampe area of Abuja, Nigeria.
According to authorities, her apartment was ransacked by robbers. And in a desperate attempt to save her life, Maduagwu lept three stories from her apartment, located on the top floor. She landed “on the hard cemented floor,” which knocked her unconscious. Police found her outside of her apartment building and she was rushed to a local hospital. Maduagwu died of her injuries.
“Under these conditions, panic would have resulted from this kind of environment,” the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao Adewale said, per the New York Post. “And out of fear, she jumped down from that third story, the top floor. The consequences are what we are seeing. It’s so sad, so unfortunate.”
And the home invasion didn’t seem to be random, either.
Adewale told local media the “hoodlums” stormed into Maduagwu’s home “specifically.” He also condemned the incident, calling it “cruel and senseless,” “has no place in a sane society,” and is “determined to identify, track and apprehend those responsible.” One security guard, “who dared to challenge, sustained a gunshot,” the police commissioner added. He survived.
In a tribute on X, her Arise News coworkers called the anchor, nicknamed “Sommie,” as a “cherished member of the ARISE News family” and “a vibrant voice that engaged and connected with our viewers.”
In a follow-up post, the news channel wrote: “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.”
They also called her “a professional and supportive colleague and a friend to many.”
“Sommie’s voice is now silent,” the post concluded, “But her spirit, passion, and legacy will endure as part of our collective memory.”
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