Haunting Last Words of Arise TV Journalist Before Her Killing

ByEditor

Sep 30, 2025 #Abuja Armed Robbers, #May Nigeria Never Happen to Me, #Slain Arise TV Journalist, #Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, #Somtochukwu Maduagwu, #Somtochukwu Maduagwu's Last Post

Matilda Omonaiye/

The death of Arise Television reporter, anchor and producer, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, has thrown Nigeria’s media community and wider public into mourning, just weeks after she posted a chilling message that now reads like a premonition.

On August 14, Somtochukwu, fondly called Sommie, wrote on X, “I pray from the depth of my heart that Nigeria never happens to me or anyone I care about.”

That prayer now echoes painfully after the young journalist was killed during an alleged armed robbery at her Abuja residence in the early hours of Monday.

According to a statement issued by Arise TV, Somtochukwu was shot by suspected robbers who invaded her home.

She reportedly sustained severe head injuries and died shortly afterwards, despite efforts by neighbours to rush her to the hospital.

Amid the outpouring of grief, one of her close friends took to social media to correct what they described as misleading narratives about her death.

“Please I know we are all emotional concerning Sommie’s death but if you don’t know what happened, be quiet! She died immediately she fell from the gunshot. She cracked her skull. Her neighbor was kind enough to take her to the hospital and morgue. Police where???” the friend wrote.

Rejecting claims that police were involved in taking her to the hospital or that she was preparing for marriage, the friend added, “This thread is a lie. I beg you, don’t use my friend’s death to chase clout. Don’t do that. No police was called to take her to the hospital. She was shot and fell. Died immediately. Saying she was to get married in 2 months. Is it you that is the husband? Please be quiet.”

Tributes have since poured in from colleagues, journalists and viewers who followed her work on Arise TV, with many sharing her August 14 post as a grim reminder of the dangers and uncertainties Nigerians face daily.

Somtochukwu’s killing has renewed public anger over insecurity in the nation’s capital and the wider country.

Her last words on X, “I pray from the depth of my heart that Nigeria never happens to me or anyone I care about,” now haunt a nation still struggling to keep its citizens safe.