Father Of Late Somtochukwu Maduagwu Insists She Was Murdered, Calls For Fresh Investigation
Engineer Ifeanyi Maduagwu, father of the late Arise News journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu, has rejected reports surrounding his daughter’s death and is demanding a full, transparent investigation, insisting that she was murdered. Somtochukwu lost her life on September 29 after an alleged attack at her residence in Katampe, Abuja. Early reports claimed she fell from a three-storey building while trying to escape from her assailants, but her father says the story is false and inconsistent with her character. In an interview with BBC Igbo, Mr. Maduagwu maintained that his daughter was deliberately killed. “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 her as brilliant, cheerful, and afraid of heights. “If you keep Sommie on a table and tell her to jump down, she won’t do it — not to talk of a three-storey building. That’s a lie. I want the police to conduct a thorough investigation because the truth has not yet come out,” he added. He further expressed pain over the slow response when the incident occurred. “I heard that help was called for, but no one came on time. Even at the hospital, she was delayed because they requested identification papers. That broke my heart,” he lamented. Mr. Maduagwu recalled that just days before her death, his daughter spoke about her plans to settle down and her dream of making a difference in Nigeria through public service. Somtochukwu was buried on Saturday in her hometown, Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, after a funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church. Family, friends, colleagues, and notable figures — including former Anambra State governor Peter Obi — attended the solemn ceremony. During the service, Rev. Fr. Peter Ezewuzie urged the grieving family to take comfort in faith, reminding them that “the Lord who created us knows the beginning and the end.”