The family of slain ARISE News anchor and reporter, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, has urged the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently unravel and prosecute the killers of their daughter.
This was the emotional appeal made on Tuesday during a condolence visit by Senior Management of the ARISE Media Group to the Maduagwu family residence in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
Somtochukwu, fondly called Sommie, was murdered in the early hours of Monday, September 29, 2025, during an armed robbery at her home in the Katampe area of Abuja. The 29-year-old was a lawyer-turned-journalist whose rising career was tragically cut short, triggering widespread grief and outrage across Nigeria’s media and civil society spaces.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Engineer Obi Maduagwu, elder brother to Sommie’s father, described the killing as “senseless, cruel, and deeply painful.” He said the family appreciated ARISE News for standing with them but demanded accountability from authorities.
“We appreciate the solidarity shown by ARISE News, but we also demand justice. Those who did this must be found and brought to face the full weight of the law,” he said.
Leading the ARISE delegation was Mr. Bayo Awosemo, Deputy Managing Director, who was accompanied by Mr. Sumner Sambo, Director of News, and Mr. Chris Isiguzo, Director of Corporate Services and former National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). They conveyed the condolences of the ARISE Media Group and praised Sommie’s remarkable work ethic, strong values, and dedication to journalism.
Isiguzo, who is also President of the Congress of African Journalists, shared an emotional recollection of his last moment with the deceased:
“We were together in the office on Saturday and Sunday. In fact, before she went on air to present her programme, we exchanged pleasantries as always. Who could have imagined that hours later, we’d be talking about her in the past tense?
‘We are heartbroken, but we cannot question God. Her voice may be silent, but her legacy will endure.”
Sommie’s mother was visibly inconsolable during the visit, while her father, Engineer Ifeanyi Maduagwu, was too distraught to speak. The family’s home in Port Harcourt was filled with sympathisers, friends, relatives, neighbours, and media colleagues; many of whom described her as brilliant, humble, and deeply principled, a rare gem in her generation.
Born on December 26, 1995, Sommie studied law in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, later transitioning into journalism where she found her true calling. She joined ARISE News as a reporter, producer, and anchor, known for her thoughtful interviews and coverage of legal issues, gender equity, and social justice.
Director of News, Sumner Sambo, assured the bereaved family that ARISE News will pursue justice to its logical conclusion, stating firmly:
“No stone will be left unturned in unmasking those responsible for this heinous crime.”
Sommie’s death has re-ignited calls for stronger protection for journalists and urgent reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture.
