The passing of one of us: Arise TV news anchor, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu
I woke up early in the week to the tragic news of the passing of a promising Arise News anchor and producer, Somtochukwu, popularly known as Sommie. At only 29 years old, she had cut a niche for herself and was on a steady rise. Described by colleagues and friends as warm and giving positive energy, Sommie was a sight for sore eyes, on television and off-screen. She was a lawyer by training and a journalist by calling. She combined anchoring with production and reporting. It is rare to find someone in the newsroom who can do all of these and do them well.
Sommie was one of those who, like a lot of us in this male-dominated field, chose to set herself apart through a dint of hard work, resilience and personal determination; she worked her way up against gender expectations. Arise describes her as a cherished member and a vibrant voice who was warm and highly professional.
“As the story goes, she got no immediate help, lying on that concrete floor, fighting for her life. At the site of a crisis, the robbers fled, knowing that if security operatives arrived, they would not stand a chance.”
I have sat in my quiet room to ask all the questions a veteran in the industry would ask. How? Why? What next?
The family of Somtochukwu, who was said to have waited 10 full years before she came along, feels like they have been hit by a tonne of bricks.
Nobody can feel their pain like they do. An achiever, a superstar – how do they recover? Her mother must have spoken to her through the crisis. The fear, the trepidation. Our hearts are saddened by this needless death.
What were the armed robbers thinking? What drives them? And to what end? I am truly befuddled.
We now know that in the haze of the robbery and the confusion that set in, Somtochukwu, fearing for her life as the invaders knocked hard on her door, decided that it was better to jump to safety so she would not encounter these persons who might bring her grievous bodily harm.
As she lunged forward from her balcony, she might have gauged her chances. She would have thought it was not so far off or even thought about how much time she had before they broke in and what they could have done to her. A beautiful, brilliant woman whose skin glittered like silk – what thought occupied her pretty brain before she jumped? But not used to jumping such heights, Sommie landed in a bad way and required immediate medical attention.
As the story goes, she got no immediate help, lying on that concrete floor, fighting for her life. At the site of a crisis, the robbers fled, knowing that if security operatives arrived, they would not stand a chance.
Then the police vehicles arrived a tad too late into the operation, and what I heard is that the police complained of no fuel in their car to ferry Sommie to the hospital. Merde! So, Sommie’s mum, who does not live in Abuja, sent her friend, who travelled from another part of Abuja, to take our dear Somtochukwu to the hospital. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking; Somtochukwu has a medical emergency. But the dance drama in the hospital numbed me. Police report or nothing. But she was not shot. She did not even see the armed robbers. She simply jumped out of fear and hurt herself very badly.
What is the protocol for admitting a patient who needs urgent medical attention to the hospital? So I understand gunshot wounds. What about someone who was fleeing from danger and hurt herself? If Somtochukwu had a cut as a result, would the response be the same? Just being in an armed robbery environment as a victim requires a police report before a government hospital attends to you?
I just wonder! Because the story ends tragically and Somtochukwu dies in such a tragic manner, insecurity, healthcare and the men and women in this national tragedy need to reflect. How did we get here?
At 65 years of age, citizens and institutions cannot continue to give Nigeria a bad name to hang it.
Somtochukwu paid the ultimate price. So sad. My heart goes out to her parents, Arise TV and the NBA, as well as all citizens, for this tragic loss.
As the investigation continues, our prayer is that all those involved, both the physical (armed robbers) and others whose failure to do something to save a life by omission/commission, are all brought to book.
May Somtochukwu’s gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.
