According to a report by Premium Times on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Ifeanyi Maduagwu, the father of late Arise Television journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, has dismissed claims that his daughter jumped from a three-storey building while fleeing armed robbers, insisting that she was murdered under suspicious circumstances.
Speaking during an interview monitored on BBC Igbo, Mr Maduagwu expressed disbelief over the version of events being circulated, describing it as “funny” and inconsistent with his daughter’s personality. He maintained that there was no way Somtochukwu, popularly known as Sommie, could have taken such a fatal leap.
“I know that my first daughter, Sommie Tochukwu Christelle Maduagwa, whom I gave birth to, would not have jumped from a three-storey building,” he said.
Mr Maduagwu further referenced one of the suspects’ claims that Sommie’s fall occurred after an armed robber tried to hold her but couldn’t support her weight. He questioned the logic behind such an explanation, saying it raised more doubts than answers about what truly happened that night.
He emphasised that his daughter’s cautious nature made the story even more implausible. “Sommie loved her life so much. Even if you ask her to jump from a table, she won’t. So, how can anyone say she jumped from a building that high?” he asked, visibly emotional.
The grieving father insisted that the authorities must go beyond surface-level accounts to uncover the real cause of her death. According to him, the inconsistencies in the narrative suggest that his daughter’s death was the result of foul play, not an accident.
“I believe that my daughter was murdered,” he said firmly, calling on security agencies to intensify investigations and ensure justice is served. He maintained that the explanation given so far “does not add up” and must be properly scrutinised by the police.
His comments come as part of an ongoing public demand for a deeper probe into the journalist’s death, following the arrest of 12 suspects linked to the attack on her residence in Katampe, Abuja. The police had earlier confirmed that the suspects were tracked across multiple states, but Mr Maduagwu insists the motive behind her death remains unclear.
Mr Maduagwu reiterated his appeal for justice, stating that only a transparent investigation would bring closure to his family. “The truth is still hidden,” he said, adding that his daughter’s life and career deserve to be honoured by uncovering exactly what happened on that tragic night. See, More, Here>>>
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