Some colleagues of the late Arise TV presenter, Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu, have spoken out on the circumstances surrounding her death.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the station, in a statement signed by Hadiza Usman-Ajayi, confirmed that Sommie died on Monday following an armed robbery at her residence in the Katampe area of Abuja.
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During the station’s Tuesday edition of “The Morning Show”, Reuben Abati, alongside his colleagues, Ojy Okpe and Rufai Oseni, attributed Sommie’s death to hospital negligence, police unprofessionalism, and systemic government failure.
He stated that Sommie and others were rushed to the hospital but died after allegedly being denied prompt treatment.
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Mr Abati claimed that workers at the hospital insisted on seeing identification documents before providing medical attention.
He said: “The report was that armed robbers attacked her, and the police are hereby enjoined to investigate, and we thought armed robbery had ended in this country.
I always tell people around me that our job is very dangerous, and we don’t know the pathways it can lead to. It can lead to a path of death, but, unfortunately, a young lady of 29 with a future ahead of her has fallen.
“She’s been taken to the hospital along with others, and again, this is an issue about the law in Nigeria.
There’s a law that says anybody who is a victim of an accident, armed robbery attacks, or gunshot wounds should be treated immediately, but these persons who were involved, including our Sommie, were taken to the hospital, but the hospital refused to treat them because the staff were looking for identification.”
He urged the government to tackle the problem of hospitals neglecting injured persons due to a lack of identification.
“It is the duty of doctors and nurses to stay faithful to the Hippocratic Oath, which is to save lives. I hope the hospital is properly identified, and sanctions, where appropriate, are applied to that particular hospital and officials who were on duty that day. Lives could have been saved if the medical professionals didn’t behave like Donkeys. It’s very painful that no efforts were made because they were looking for identification.”
Okpe
In her reaction, Ms Okpe voiced her anger over the 29-year-old’s death, describing it as entirely preventable.
She disclosed that Sommie jumped from her home after learning that armed robbers had invaded the building, sustaining severe injuries.
She noted, “She jumped down from her home when she heard that 14 armed robbers had come to her house. She did not die on the spot. She was taken to the hospital, but she was rejected.
“This really is a tragic, tragic incident. Sommie’s life could have been saved, but the hospital refused to treat her.”
Oseni
Mr Oseni said he was shattered, broken, and devastated by the death of Sommie, whom he described as a person who wanted little for herself but sought a better life for young girls and others.
He added that he received the news while playing tennis and was left speechless, enduring a rough night.
According to him, Sommie was an exceptional woman with her whole life ahead of her, but it was tragically cut short.
“The police were called upon and nowhere to be found. They got to the hospital, after it’s been repeated many times, that when you see a gunshot wound, treat them first, but the hospital talks about identity.
And these hospitals will say they have doctors that signed up to the Hippocratic Oath. And then very avoidable death. Sommie came back to Nigeria because she believed in this country.
“This country will celebrate our 65th Independence a couple of days from now. She could have stayed back in the UK. She had a British passport and a Nigerian passport. Some will say if the rules were switched, probably if she was abroad, she would have a medical care that could respond to her. Sommie is all of us. Today, we are all Sommie,” said Mr Oseni.
He noted that what happened to Sommie could have happened to anyone.
He lamented that, despite Sommie’s constant prayers for Nigeria’s troubles not to befall her or others, she eventually fell victim.
“Somebody brought my attention also to a tweet that Sommie had made a couple of months ago that may Nigeria not happen to us.
But the sad reality is that Nigeria happened to Sommie, like it happens to all of us, and that’s why we speak against the injustices here today. We have seen messages being sent to condole with us by those in authority, and we appreciate their messages.
“But our charge for them today is that, can they just work hard at making what happened to Sommie not happen to any other person? Because that’s the greatest pain in this country. But if there’s anything we’ll have to do, it’s to ensure that all the things Sommie fought for when she was alive, we fight for those things to carry on her legacy.”
He further blamed poor leadership and a failed system for Sommie’s death, stressing that “we live in a country where life does not matter.”
Police comments
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command condemned Sommie’s death in a statement signed by spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, on behalf of Commissioner Ajao Adewale on Tuesday.
Ms Adeh said the commissioner extended condolences to Sommie’s family, friends, and colleagues and described the incident as a cruel and senseless act that has no place in a sane society.
She said: “The Commissioner of Police assured that the Command remains fully committed to ensuring that justice is served.
To this end, he has ordered a discreet and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. He further directed the deployment of intelligence and operational assets to identify, track, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime.
“While assuring residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to public safety and the prevention of similar occurrences, the CP called on members of the public to support ongoing investigations by providing timely and useful information to the Police.
He charged all FCT residents to always ensure they raise prompt alarm in every suspicious situation with a view to denying criminal elements in our society, opportunity to carry out their evil plans.”
None of the colleagues, however, mentioned the hospital involved.
Tinubu mourns
Mourning the deceased broadcaster, President Bola Tinubu called for an investigation into the incident.
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“Ms Maduagwu was a promising professional journalist whose life was cut short in a cruel and condemnable manner,” the president said in a statement signed by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.
Mr Tinubu extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, the management and staff of ARISE TV, and “the entire Nigerian media fraternity over this painful loss.”
“Security and law enforcement agencies should conduct a quick and thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice without delay,” the president directed.
