The Rivers State Police Command has shut down a hotel in Eagle Island Estate, Port Harcourt, following the death of a man identified as Okorite Charles under questionable circumstances.
The incident occurred on Thursday, August 27, 2026, triggering tension at the hotel before policemen from the Azikiwe Police Division arrived and restored calm.
According to Punch, family members and friends of the deceased stormed the hotel after learning of his death and demanded an explanation from the management.
The development disrupted activities at the hotel as the family expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation that Charles had fallen from the balcony of a two-storey building at the rear of the premises.
The family also demanded access to the hotel’s CCTV footage, insisting that it could help establish what happened to the deceased.
Charles’ elder brother, identified as Obomate, told newsmen that the family was informed of his brother’s death at about 5am on Thursday.
“I was at home around 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,” he said.
According to him, the family was told that Charles fell from the balcony of a two-storey building at the back of the hotel.
“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.
“The doctor also said he 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.”
Obomate called for justice and urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death.
Following the tension at the hotel, police operatives shut down the premises and ordered everyone, including guests, to vacate the building temporarily.
A source familiar with the incident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the police action was likely aimed at preserving the scene and preventing possible tampering with or destruction of evidence, while also averting further confrontation at the hotel.
“As we speak, the hotel has been closed by the police. They asked everybody to vacate the premises. But the family are still there, asking to see the CCTV,” the source said.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, confirmed the incident and said Charles was initially taken to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
“His family and friends then took his remains to the hotel to seek explanation. As the situation became tense, our men arrived there. About five persons, including some people who were with the deceased the night before and some staff of the hotel, were taken in for questioning,” the police spokesperson stated.
Agabe added that the hotel was sealed as part of the investigation.
“We also sealed the hotel as part of our investigation. As I speak with you, the investigation is ongoing to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the incident,” he said.
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