By Oso Abidemi
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a nationwide manhunt for the killers of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a rising anchor with Arise Television, who was murdered during a robbery attack at her Katampe residence in Abuja on Monday.
Describing the incident as “shocking, wicked, and unacceptable,” the President said Nigeria had been deprived of a bright lawyer and journalist cut down in her prime.
He directed security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators without delay and bring them to justice.
Tinubu also extended condolences to Maduagwu’s family, Arise News, and the broader media community, assuring that his administration would intensify efforts to secure lives and property.
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu also mourned the tragic loss, describing Maduagwu’s death as “painful and most unfortunate.”
She sent condolences to Arise Media Group Chairman, Chief Nduka Obaigbena, her family, friends, and colleagues, praying for comfort and strength for the bereaved.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), expressed deep sadness, noting that journalism had lost a talented professional committed to giving voice to the voiceless.
In a joint statement, NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh called her killing a “senseless act” that reflects Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, urging government action to protect citizens.
Civil society groups, including the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), and the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), condemned the killing, linking it to systemic failures in security and healthcare.
HURIWA criticised Maitama General Hospital for allegedly insisting on a police report before treating Maduagwu, calling it “bureaucratic indifference” that cost her life.
The group demanded accountability, insisting that the hospital’s Chief Medical Director should be sacked.
FENRAD described the tragedy as a grim reflection of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, warning that if a journalist could be killed so brazenly in Abuja, nowhere in the country could be considered safe.
Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ajao Adewale, condemned the killing as “cruel and senseless.”
He directed the deployment of intelligence and operational teams to track the assailants, urging residents to support investigations with useful information.
The robbers, reportedly armed with point-of-sale (POS), machines, had invaded the estate, assaulted residents, and killed Maduagwu and her security guard.
She was rushed to hospital but died after delays in receiving urgent medical attention.
Her death has sparked nationwide outrage, with calls for justice and renewed demands for the government to urgently tackle insecurity and reform healthcare protocols that prioritise procedure over saving lives.
