Tragedy has struck the Nigerian media community as Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a lawyer and broadcast journalist with Arise News, was killed in an armed robbery attack at her residence in Abuja.
According to reports circulating on social media, armed men stormed Maduagwu’s home, shooting her multiple times before escaping with money and other personal belongings.
Neighbors and eyewitnesses described the attack as sudden and violent, leaving little chance for intervention.
Maduagwu, who was critically injured, was reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital. However, accounts shared online allege that she was not immediately attended to, as hospital staff demanded to see her identification before commencing treatment. The delay, according to witnesses, may have worsened her condition. She was later confirmed dead.
The news of her passing has sparked widespread grief and outrage, with colleagues and viewers paying tribute to her professionalism and kind personality. Described as a promising young journalist and a dedicated lawyer, Maduagwu was seen as a rising voice in Nigerian broadcast journalism.
Neither the Nigeria Police Force nor Arise News has officially released a statement as of the time of filing this report.
However, public pressure is mounting for both a swift investigation into her killing and a probe into the hospital’s alleged refusal to treat her without identification.
Tributes have flooded social media platforms, with many Nigerians condemning the insecurity plaguing the country and calling for urgent reforms to protect citizens.
Others have also raised concerns about hospital practices that prioritize documentation over emergency care.
Maduagwu’s death marks another painful loss for Nigeria’s journalism community, highlighting once again the dangers of rising crime and systemic lapses in emergency response
