• Planned to wed before Easter
• Fubara expresses grief
By Daniel Abia
Port Harcourt-The sudden passing of 29-year-old Arise TV journalist, Somtochukwu ‘Sommie’ Maduagwu, has left her family, colleagues, and supporters in profound sorrow, abruptly ending her aspiration to return from the United Kingdom and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria‘s progress.
Sommie reportedly took her own life by leaping from a three-story building in Abuja while attempting to evade an armed robbery. She had been preparing to marry before Easter 2026, but her unexpected death has shattered those plans and left a void among her loved ones.
Her uncle, Engr. Obi Maduagwu, recounted the moment the family learned of the tragedy. “It was Sommie’s niece in Abuja who first contacted me using Sommie’s phone. She confirmed the incident after rushing to the scene and then to the hospital. I had to inform her parents separately to come home, though breaking the news to her mother was incredibly difficult,” he shared.
He portrayed Sommie as a fiercely independent individual with a strong commitment to improving Nigeria. “After spending two years working in the UK, she told her father she was coming back because she wanted to help build a better Nigeria. That was her core belief. She even dreamed of entering politics to champion women’s rights,” he revealed.
Engr. Maduagwu, visibly heartbroken, criticized the nation’s security and healthcare systems. “Had the police responded swiftly, this tragedy might have been averted. Hospitals should not require identification or police reports before providing emergency care. In the UK, emergency calls are answered within three minutes,” he lamented.
Though Sommie held dual citizenship and had a legal education, she chose journalism as her platform. Just days before her death, she posted a poignant message: “let Nigeria not happen to you,” which her uncle now sees as a chilling foreshadowing.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, mourned Sommie’s loss as a significant blow. In a statement of condolence, he said: “She was more than an accomplished journalist; she embodied kindness, intelligence, and resilience. Her work on Arise News inspired countless viewers, and her dedication to justice reflected her legal background. Losing Sommie at this moment is a heartbreaking tragedy for her family, Rivers State, and the nation.”
The governor acknowledged that while her absence leaves an irreplaceable gap, he finds comfort in the Federal Government’s directive for security agencies to ensure a thorough investigation and justice.