Nigerian Arise TV presenter Sommie Maduagwu has died after armed robbers invaded her residence in Katampe, Abuja. She was 29 years old and only two months away from her wedding and her 30th birthday.
The attack happened around 2:30 a.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025, at Unique Apartments, Plot 1706. The building has 22 flats, each costing between ₦2.5 million and ₦4 million (Ksh 250K-350K).
Residents said the robbers, about fifteen in number, operated for nearly an hour and a half.
When the gang arrived, the vigilante guards on duty tried to resist. One of them, Barnabas, was shot dead because he refused to surrender. Four other guards were tied up and locked away until the robbers left.
The armed men went from flat to flat, raiding more than ten apartments. Tenants said they stayed hidden after hearing gunshots and could not come out.
During the chaos, Sommie, who lived in a one-bedroom flat on the second floor, tried to escape. She jumped from the building and hit the hard cement floor. Neighbours later found her unconscious and in a coma.
One resident carried her towards the hospital. On the way, he met police officers who were just arriving at the compound. He told them she was a victim, and some officers followed him to the hospital.
Different accounts spread online later. Some said the police refused to move her because they had no fuel. But one neighbor insists that is not true. He said a resident had already started rushing Sommie Maduagwu to hospital before the police even entered the compound.
Despite being taken for treatment, Sommie died shortly after arriving.
Neighbours believe the hard cemented floor of the compound made her injuries worse. They said if it had been a softer surface, she might have survived the fall.
Her cousin later confirmed the heartbreaking news that she was about to turn 30 and was planning her wedding.
May her soul rest in peace.
By Vivian K.