Somtochukwu ‘Sommie’ Maduagwu Laid to Rest in Agulu as Tears and Tributes Flow

It was a day of deep sorrow and reflection on Saturday as family, friends and colleagues gathered in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, to bid farewell to late Arise Television news anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu, fondly called “Sommie.”

Among those who attended the funeral was Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who described her passing as a painful reminder of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity. Obi, a native of Agulu, spoke after the funeral Mass, expressing grief over the tragic loss. “When I heard about her death, I didn’t even know she was from Agulu” he said. “We cannot question God. Our visit here is to console the family, though we understand this is a heavy loss. Please continue to remember her and her family in your prayers.”

He added that before leaving Birmingham, he had told friends he was rushing home for “the burial of one of my daughters” asking that she be remembered in prayers as she was laid to rest. Maduagwu, who was murdered during a robbery at her home in Abuja in September 2025, was interred at about 1:30 p.m. after a solemn Mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Agulu.

Delivering the homily, Rev. Fr. Peter Ezewuzie of St. Theresa’s Parish encouraged the bereaved family to find strength in faith, reminding them that God’s will is beyond human understanding. He said, “The Lord knows the beginning and the end. While her passing may seem premature, we trust that God’s plan is perfect. Life’s true measure lies not in its length but in the value it carries, and Somto’s life was full of meaning.”

Her uncle, Obi Maduagwu, expressed gratitude to Arise News Channel for their unwavering support, saying, “The management has been with us since her passing, and we are thankful to everyone who came to stand with us.” The death of the young journalist sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s media landscape, drawing tributes from colleagues and public figures who described her as talented, hardworking and full of promise.

Her burial drew journalists, dignitaries and members of the Agulu community who came together to celebrate a life that, though brief, shone brightly and left a lasting mark on the nation’s media industry.