Obi present as Arise TV journalist Maduagwu buried in Anambra

Emotions ran precocious connected Saturday arsenic the remains of precocious Arise TV quality anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, fondly called Sommie, were laid to remainder successful her hometown of Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The September 2025 tragedy, which claimed the beingness of the promising broadcaster during an equipped robbery onslaught astatine her Abuja residence, drew mourners from crossed the country. Her interment took spot astir 1:30 p.m. aft a ceremonial Mass astatine St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Agulu.

Family members, colleagues, friends, and dignitaries, among them erstwhile Anambra politician and 2023 Labour Party statesmanlike candidate, Peter Obi, gathered to wage their last respects to the writer whose beingness and vocation were abruptly chopped short.

Delivering his homily, Reverend Father Peter Ezewuzie of St. Theresa’s Parish urged the grieving household to find comfortableness successful the bequest Sommie near behind.

Ezewuzie said, “The Lord who created america knows the opening from the end. He is all-knowing, and immoderate of you whitethorn beryllium unhappy that a beingness has been chopped short, but you won’t cognize if that is however God planned it.

“He (God) is an all-knowing father, truthful I impulse you to grieve less. God, who gave Christelle Somtoo Maduagwu to your family, loves her much than you do. The lone happening you beryllium her is to proceed to retrieve her successful your prayers. She is successful a amended spot contiguous and volition ever retrieve us, too.

“The maturity of beingness is the prime of beingness lived and not however long, and we tin beryllium definite that our sister lived a prime life. Let america strive to unrecorded our lives well. We are not present by chance; determination is idiosyncratic who brought america here, and helium expects that you volition unrecorded a bully beingness due to the fact that nary 1 knows erstwhile it volition beryllium their time.”

In his remarks, Peter Obi, who besides hails from Agulu, described Sommie’s passing arsenic heartbreaking and a reflection of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Obi said, “We cannot question God. When I heard of her death, I didn’t cognize that she was from Agulu, adjacent earlier I tweeted astir it.

“Our coming present volition assistance to console you, but we cognize that this nonaccomplishment is simply a immense one. It is the privation of God, and nary of america tin question God. Please bash retrieve her and her contiguous household successful your prayers.

“Before I near Birmingham yesterday, I told immoderate radical who were with maine that I was rushing backmost to Nigeria for the burial of 1 of my daughters. I told them to retrieve to commune for her each the time, arsenic she volition beryllium buried today.”

Her uncle, Mr. Obi Maduagwu, who is the elder member of Sommie’s father, commended Arise News for lasting by the household since the calamity occurred.

He said, “We convey the absorption of Arise News. They person been with america close from the beginning. We convey each who journeyed each the mode to beryllium with us.”

The station Obi contiguous arsenic Arise TV writer Maduagwu buried successful Anambra appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.