The father of late Arise Television presenter, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, has described her tragic death as a painful and heartbreaking experience that left an unfillable void in his life.
In an emotional interview, Engineer Ifeanyi Maduagwu, who hails from Agulu in Anambra State, recounted the moments leading up to the shocking news of his daughter’s death during an armed robbery attack at her Abuja residence.
“Honestly, it was a tragic and devastating experience. I was at work when my elder brother called, asking me to urgently come to Port Harcourt. Barely 15 minutes earlier, I had spoken with my wife, unaware that something terrible had already happened,” he said.
The grieving father revealed that his wife had become anxious after receiving calls from people trying to reach Somtochukwu that morning. Despite efforts to confirm her safety, the news of her death later hit the family like a storm.
“By the time everything became clear, the worst had already happened. It is so painful because, after all her efforts, my daughter’s passion and dreams for Nigeria were cut short,” he lamented.
Engineer Maduagwu shared that Somtochukwu studied in the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria to attend Law School and complete her National Youth Service Corps programme.
He added that although she had secured a ticket to return abroad for her master’s degree, she chose to remain in Nigeria for two years to gain experience and contribute to the country’s development.
“She strongly believed that things were not right in Nigeria and that her voice needed to be heard at home. She wanted to be part of the solution,” he explained.
Reflecting on their fond memories, Maduagwu recalled their last family vacation in Tangier, Morocco, between September 4 and 9, 2025.
“We went to the beach and took a city tour together. It was such a beautiful bonding moment—just father and daughter,” he said with a heavy heart.
He described Somtochukwu as a lively compassionate, and ambitious young woman who dreamed of serving Nigeria as a senator someday.
“She was passionate about helping the needy and amplifying women’s voices in politics. Her biggest aspiration was to one day become a senator,” he said.
According to him, the late journalist would have turned 30 on December 26, 2025, and had already planned to celebrate her birthday by cooking for children and families in their hometown.
“She said she wanted to go to the village to cook for the kindred, especially the children. She did the same four years ago and was looking forward to doing it again,” he recalled.
When asked about her personal life, Maduagwu disclosed that Somtochukwu was engaged and had many suitors but always prioritized building her career before marriage.
“She didn’t want to depend on a man. Eventually, she got engaged,” he said.
Overcome with emotion, the bereaved father said he would forever miss his daughter’s care, affection, and constant concern for his wellbeing.
“She always called to ask, ‘Dad, have you eaten? Are you taking care of yourself?’ Her death has pierced my heart like an arrow. It’s not easy,” he said, struggling to hold back tears.
He appealed to the government to intensify efforts to secure lives and property across the country to prevent further tragic losses.
“My only plea is that the government should urgently address the issues that continue to put citizens at risk. Lives must be protected,” he added.
