The father of late Arise TV anchor, Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu, has demanded a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding his daughter’s tragic death, rejecting claims that she jumped from a three-storey building during a robbery attack in Abuja.
Sommie, a promising broadcast journalist with Arise News, reportedly fell from her apartment at Unique Apartments in Katampe, Abuja, on the night of September 29, 2025, during an armed robbery incident. Police sources earlier stated that she jumped in a panic to escape the assailants.
However, her father, Mr. Ifeanyi Maduagwu, insists that narrative is false, stressing that his daughter was deeply afraid of heights and could not have willingly jumped.
“If you keep Sommie on top of a table and ask her to jump down, she can’t do it — let alone from a three-storey building,” he said in an emotional statement.
The bereaved father also expressed disappointment over alleged delays in medical response and the handling of the case, urging the Nigeria Police Force and relevant authorities to carry out a transparent and thorough probe to uncover the truth behind her death.
Police reports confirm that armed men invaded the Katampe residence, shooting a security guard before Sommie’s fatal fall. One suspect, identified as Sani Sirajo, reportedly confessed to attempting to prevent her from falling during the chaos.
Public pressure continues to mount as professional bodies and concerned citizens call for justice for the late journalist, whose death has reignited debate over insecurity and safety in Nigeria’s capital.
Sommie’s death has sent shockwaves through the media community, with colleagues and fans mourning her as a bright and fearless storyteller whose life was cut short under troubling circumstances.
