E247mag.com reports:
The father of late Arise TV presenter, Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, has spoken out in deep grief following her tragic death during an armed robbery attack at her residence in Abuja.
In an emotional interview with journalist Dennis Naku, Engineer Ifeanyi Maduagwu, who hails from Agulu, Anambra State, shared the heartbreaking story of his daughter’s life, dreams, and final days — a story of passion, patriotism, and profound loss.
“I had booked her ticket, but she chose to stay”
Speaking about her determination, Mr. Maduagwu revealed that his daughter had been scheduled to return abroad to pursue her master’s degree, but she declined, insisting she wanted to gain work experience in Nigeria first.
> “I had already booked her ticket to return abroad for her master’s,” he said, voice trembling. “But she insisted she wanted to work for at least two years in Nigeria to gain experience before going back — and she did exactly that.”
Somtochukwu, who studied in the United Kingdom and completed her Law School in Nigeria, went on to serve in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) before joining Arise Television as a presenter. Her passion for storytelling and national development made her a rising voice in Nigerian media circles.
A promising future cut short
Engineer Maduagwu recounted how his family learned of the tragedy. He had been at work when he received a sudden call from his elder brother asking him to rush to Port Harcourt.
> “Barely 15 minutes earlier, I had spoken to my wife. Then I got a call asking me to come urgently. My wife was already panicking because people had been trying unsuccessfully to reach Sommie that morning,” he said.
He said that by the time he managed to confirm the situation, “the worst had already happened.”
A daughter full of dreams
Somtochukwu’s father described her as “full of life, compassionate, and determined to make a difference.” She had dreamed of one day becoming a senator in Nigeria to champion women’s voices and promote youth inclusion in politics.
> “She believed things were going wrong in the country and wanted to be part of the solution,” her father explained. “She wanted to speak up and push for change.”
Born on December 26, 1995, Somtochukwu had already begun planning for her next birthday, intending to return to her hometown to celebrate with village children and the less privileged.
Memories and love that remain
Recounting their last trip together, Engineer Maduagwu said they had just spent quality time in Tangier, Morocco, between September 4 and 9, 2025.
> “We went to the beach together and toured the city on a double-decker bus. It was such a beautiful bonding moment,” he recalled fondly.
The father also confirmed that his daughter had recently gotten engaged, though she always emphasized her desire to be self-reliant and successful before marriage.
> “She always said she didn’t want to depend on a man,” he said.
Somtochukwu’s death has sparked widespread sorrow among media colleagues, friends, and fans who admired her professionalism and calm on-screen presence.
Her father has now called on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts in securing citizens’ lives, saying the country has lost too many young, promising voices to violence and insecurity.
“It is heartbreaking that her dreams and passion for this country were left unfulfilled,” he lamented. “My only plea is that the government should do more to protect lives.”
With tears in his eyes, the grieving father concluded,
“She was my handbag — my joy, my first child. She always called to ask, ‘Dad, have you eaten?’ I’ll miss everything about her.”