The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ajao Adewale, has revealed that late Arise TV anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie died before she was taken to the hospital, contrary to earlier reports that she passed away while receiving treatment.

Speaking in an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, October 1, Adewale explained that Sommie died after jumping from the top floor of her apartment at Unique Apartments, Plot 1706, Katampe, in a bid to escape armed robbers.

Her death has cast a dark cloud over the media industry and has since drawn an outpouring of condolences from well-meaning Nigerians.

Narrating the incident, Adewale said: “Some hoodlums—armed robbers, specifically—gained access to Unique Apartments where Sommie lived. It’s a twin three-story, 18-floor apartment complex in the Katampe area under Mabushi Division. At that time, two private security guards were on duty. One of them, who had the courage to challenge the intruders, sustained a gunshot wound.

“Under such a condition, you can imagine the panic that would have spread. Sommie occupied an apartment on the topmost floor of the building. Out of fear, she jumped from that tall structure, the top floor.”

According to him, officers rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call.

“What they found was the unconscious body of Sommie on the ground. They picked her up immediately and took her to Tamagena Hospital. The doctor on duty tried as much as possible to resuscitate her using CPR, but unfortunately, she could not make it. And that was the story,” Adewale said.

He described the incident as “sad and unfortunate,” stressing that investigations into the armed robbery attack are ongoing.