Rivers police shut down hotel over man’s death

There was pandemonium on Thursday morning after a young man identified as Okorite Charles, in his mid-20s, died under questionable circumstances at a hotel (name withheld) located in Eagle Island Estate, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Family members and friends of the deceased besieged the hotel after learning of his death in the early hours of Thursday, demanding an explanation from the management.

However, the timely arrival of police personnel from the Azikiwe Police Division helped to calm the situation.

The elder brother of the deceased, identified as Obomate, told journalists that the family was informed about Charles’ death around 5 a.m.

He said: “I was at home by 5am when they called me. My younger sister said someone had taken pictures and sent them to her, informing her that my younger brother had died. We were told that he fell from the balcony of a two-storey building at the back of the hotel.

“We visited the hotel, but we did not see any trace indicating that he fell from the balcony. What we saw were signs suggesting that someone had struggled or possibly engaged in a fight. The area was scattered, and we also saw traces of blood.

“When we got to the hospital, the doctor told us that it was not a mere fall. He said the wound he observed on my brother’s stomach appeared to be a stab wound that had penetrated deeply.

“He also suspected that something had been used to hit him on the neck. It appeared that he had been severely beaten, as he also had injuries on his body.”

Mr Obomate called for justice and a thorough investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that police have shut down the hotel and ordered everyone to leave the premises, although there has been no official confirmation from the state police command.

A source familiar with the incident said the police action was likely aimed at securing the scene and preventing the possible tampering with or destruction of evidence.

The deceased’s remains have been deposited in an undisclosed mortuary by the police, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death are ongoing.