By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Following the death of Somtochukwu ‘Sommie’ Maduagwu, a news anchor with ARISE TV, in
Abuja on Monday, September 29, Nigerians have taken to social media to share their robbery
experiences.
In several posts on X (formerly Twitter) some Nigerians recounted, in harrowing detail, of their
experiences with robbers in their houses, on the road, or in vehicles.
Recall that there have been many versions as to how Sommie died, with the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) Police Command saying that she jumped to her death from her three-storey
apartment in Katampe, a highbrow residential area in Abuja on hearing of an armed robbery
attack of her building.
While tributes and condolence messages have continued to pour in on the life Sommie lived, and to her family, friends, and colleagues, Nigerians have dug up Sommie’s tweet of August 14,
2025, where she prayed that Nigeria should not happen to her or anyone she cares about.
The tweet, which many say looked like a premonition of her death, read, “I pray from the depth of my heart that Nigeria never happens to me or anyone I care about.”
@ulxma tweeted, “My sister was robbed and stabbed around Abuja City Gate on her way to
CDS just two weeks ago. They could’ve just robbed her but no, they had to stab her for the plot.
We still don’t understand it. And there were policemen stationed less than 50 metres away from
where it happened.
“The poor girl said she was more shocked by the nonchalant response of the policemen when she screamed and ran to them for help than by the fact that she had just been robbed and stabbed.
Later, about four people told me they knew someone who’d experienced the same around there.
“Abuja is not safe and it’s only getting worse. I hear of armed robberies and kidnappings every
now and then. Something has to be done. This is just not okay. May Sommie’s soul rest in
peace.” 💔💔💔
@Toluwani207 wrote, “I lost a church member last week. He was returning home from his farm
on a bike, and the policemen stopped him to collect money as usual. Suddenly, a rain of bullets
came out from the bushes by the roadside, unfortunately, a bullet almost shattered his leg (I don’t know how).”
@ChiefAgapa tweeted, “On the 1st of this month I was robbed and stabbed 5 times by robbers
around Apo.”
@Ryann_Agada wrote, “Abuja please nowww. They robbed in my area few weeks ago and
killed a guy. I heard they robbed another area that same night and even raped some girls. God
abeg.” 💔💔💔
@sajoba_ said, “Recently they robbed a quarters in Area 1, very close to the police station.
Settled down and enter houses. One would wonder how seeing how busy the place can be. Abuja is really unsafe, you can move guns and bombs freely, both day and night.
@MaaziPapabomboy wrote, “Anywhere around that stadium area in Abuja na thief zone. It’s as
bad as if your cat (car) spoil there, leave am. This info is older than 3 years.”
@shark2last said, “There are some areas that you dare not walk alone in Abuja, and unfortunately most are in the city centre.”
@Johnmclanne tweeted, “My site around Asokoro 100m away from police HQ Abuja was raided
a few minutes after I left that day. They tied my workers with binding wire, robbed all of them &
stole some of my items. My workers went to report to the police & they were told it’s a normal
occurrence. Shocking!
@NeneKhone wrote, “This has happened to my sister 3 times already. Abuja is just too unsafe.”
