Engineer Ifeanyi Maduagwu, father of the late Arise News journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu, has urged authorities to dig deeper into the mysterious circumstances surrounding his daughter’s death, saying the reports released so far are riddled with inconsistencies.
Somtochukwu, fondly known as Sommie, died on September 29 following an attack at her residence in Katampe, Abuja. Initial accounts suggested she fell from a three-storey building while trying to escape from unidentified attackers, but her father insists that narrative is false.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Igbo from Port Harcourt, Mr. Maduagwu maintained that his daughter was murdered.
“My daughter, Sommie Tochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, did not and would never jump from a building. I believe my daughter was killed,” he said.
He described Somtochukwu as a lively and intelligent young woman who was afraid of heights. “If you ask Sommie to jump from a table, she won’t do it, not to talk of a three-storey building. It’s a lie. I’m calling on the police to investigate thoroughly because the truth has not yet been revealed,” he stressed.
He also criticized the slow emergency response on the night of the tragedy. “I heard they called for help, but none came quickly. Even when she got to the hospital, they delayed attending to her because they asked for identification. That broke my heart,” he lamented.
Recalling their final conversation, he said Somtochukwu had spoken about her plans to settle down soon and her dream of contributing to Nigeria’s growth, even expressing interest in politics someday.
She was laid to rest on Saturday in her hometown of Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, after a funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.
The burial drew relatives, friends, colleagues, and several dignitaries, including former Anambra State governor Peter Obi. During his homily, Rev. Fr. Peter Ezewuzie consoled the bereaved family, saying, “The Lord who created us knows the beginning and the end. Even when a life seems cut short, it may still be within God’s divine plan.”
