A fresh wave of fear has swept through Delta State following the discovery of another corpse in a hotel, marking the latest in a series of mysterious deaths across hotels and guest houses in the region.
The most recent case involved the body of a young girl found in a guest house along Airport Road in Warri. According to hotel staff, the girl had checked in with a young man who later left the premises, claiming he was searching for something outside. When he failed to return after an extended period, hotel staff grew suspicious and eventually forced open the door to the room, where they found the girl dead on the bed with her mouth gagged.
The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the incident, with spokesperson SP Bright Edafe reporting that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the case.
The incident has heightened anxiety among residents and travelers about the safety of hotels in the state, recalling similar cases in recent months. In one such case, a young boy who had recently returned from Ghana was murdered in a Warri hotel, with his remains discovered only after they had been disposed of, prompting alarm among local residents.
Another chilling incident occurred in Owheologbo community, Isoko North Local Government Area, where suspected gangsters murdered a guest, Mr. Sunday Ogofotha, at a local hotel. Investigations revealed that hotel staff and management may have been complicit in the crime. The hotel manager reportedly confessed to being offered ₦5 million to facilitate access to the victim, who was later found dead with multiple stab wounds. The crime was uncovered after the victim’s wife, unable to reach her husband, raised concerns that led to a search of the hotel.
Authorities believe that some of the perpetrators behind these hotel killings target their victims’ phones and bank accounts, allegedly forcing them to transfer money via POS before killing them and fleeing with their devices. In response to these crimes, local youths, angered by perceived inaction, have set hotels ablaze and called for justice. The Delta State Police Command has been urged to intensify efforts to address the growing menace and restore public confidence in the safety of hospitality establishments.
The spate of killings has also drawn attention to the need for hotel owners and staff to be more vigilant and for guests to inform loved ones of their whereabouts. Human rights activists have called for temporary closure of affected hotels and for the public to come forward with information that could aid investigations. As Delta State grapples with these disturbing events, the community continues to demand accountability and effective measures to curb the sinister trend.
