The remains of late Arise TV news anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie, have been laid to rest amid tears in her hometown of Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Maduagwu, who was killed during an armed robbery attack at her Abuja residence in September was buried on Saturday after a solemn funeral Mass held at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Agulu.
The funeral drew a large crowd of mourners, including family members, friends, colleagues, and dignitaries such as the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Delivering a homily during the service, Rev. Fr. Peter Ezewuzie of St. Theresa’s Parish urged the grieving family to find comfort in faith, describing the late journalist’s life as one of purpose and impact.
““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.,” Ezewuzie said.
“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.”
Speaking after the Mass, Obi expressed deep sorrow over the young journalist’s death, describing it as “heartbreaking” and a reflection of the growing insecurity in the country.
“We cannot question God. When I heard of her death, I didn’t know that she was from Agulu, even before I tweeted about it,” Obi said.
“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.”
The uncle of the late Sommie, Mr. Obi Maduagwu, who is the elder brother of her father, commended Arise News for their unwavering support to the family since the tragic incident.
He expressed gratitude to the station’s management for standing by them from the moment the news of her death broke and also appreciated everyone who travelled to be with the family during their time of grief.
The late Arise News presenter, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie, died in September 2025 during an armed robbery attack at her residence in Abuja.
According to reports, the assailants broke into her home at night, and she was rushed to a nearby hospital after the attack but was later confirmed dead.
