Track down the killers of Arise TV journalist Maduagwu

The killing of Arise TV journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, penultimate Monday, has brought to the fore the threats posed by criminal elements to the safety of citizens. Maduagwu, who jumped to her death following a robbery attack at her Katampe residence, brought tears and sympathy from her media colleagues and viewers who followed her during her short career with television.

Announcing the TV host’s death, a statement released by ARISE News Channel, described Maduagwu as “a dear member of the ARISE News family whose voice engaged and connected our viewers. Sommie’s voice is now silent, but his spirit, passion and legacy will remain as part of our collective memory.”

Following the anguish of Nigerians over the death of the Arise TV journalist, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command announced that it was undertaking a rapid investigation into the incident and vowed to leave no stone unturned in unraveling the circumstances under which the TV presenter, popularly called “Sommie”, lost her life.

Maduagwu’s death has sparked wide-ranging controversy, with some accusing the hospital where she was admitted after the attack of negligence. The role of the police has also come under intense scrutiny from a wary public who, among other factors, has blamed the government for the systemic failure. However, FCT Police Commissioner Ajao Adewale dismissed as false claims linking the journalist’s death to alleged negligence at the Maitama General Hospital, where she was taken after the attack.

According to him: “Regarding the circumstances of the incident, to set the record straight, some thugs, armed robbers, in particular, managed to gain access to the Unique Apartment, where Sommie lives. It is a three-storey twin building with 18 apartments around the Gishiri axis of Katampe, under the Mabushi divisional area. At this point, two guards were on duty.

“These are private guards and one of them, who dared to challenge, was shot. Under these conditions, this kind of environment would have caused panic. Sommie actually occupied an apartment on the top floor of the building. And out of fear, she jumped off that third floor, the top floor. The consequences are what we are seeing. It’s so sad, so unfortunate.”

Refuting allegations that the police team was unprofessional and slow in responding to distress calls, the police commissioner said the police response on the matter was professional and timely. He claimed that when security personnel arrived at the scene, the 29-year-old broadcaster was lying unconscious on the floor.

“A distress call was made to the command control room. Police officers rushed to the scene. What they could see was Sommie’s unconscious body on the floor. They took her there and then took her to Maitama General Hospital, where the doctors on duty tried as much as possible to use CPR. Unfortunately, they couldn’t make it. And that’s the story,” he explained.

Police efforts to reveal the identity of the suspects involved in the Katampe robbery bore fruit as the anti-crime organization announced that it had arrested 12 suspects for the armed robbery that led to the TV host’s death. Confirming the arrest of 12 suspected armed robbers linked to the attack which also claimed the life of a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, the FCT Police Command announced that officers of the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, made the arrests, following digital and reconstructive intelligence. According to police, a manufactured AK-47 rifle and 36 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects; a pump action gun; a locally made pistol; two live cartridges; four cell phones belonging to the victims; two knives; saber and nine torches used during the attack.

The arrest of suspects linked to the armed robbery has now eased the pain of Maduagwu’s death and ensures that, ultimately, the alleged criminals involved in the dastardly act, if proven guilty, would face the long arm of the law. The use of modern tracking devices by the police to apprehend these heinous criminals gives hope that no perpetrator of crime escapes punishment.

The armed robbery attack on the TV host’s residence in Katampe is in tune with recent calls on the need to introduce and equip neighborhood security for greater citizen safety. Blueprint believes that having effective vigilante teams, equipped with the necessary tools, in neighborhoods could provide the first line of defense against criminals before the police arrive. As criminals are constantly busy devising new techniques against the safety of citizens, the police, with the active cooperation of citizens, must also live up to its mandate of protecting the lives and properties of the people.