PORT HARCOURT — Tension erupted at a hotel in Eagle Island Estate, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday morning following the death of a young man identified simply as Charles under circumstances his family described as suspicious.
The incident reportedly triggered a commotion at the hotel after relatives and friends of the deceased arrived at the facility demanding an explanation from the management over how Charles died.
The family was reportedly told that the deceased had fallen from the balcony of a two-storey building located at the rear of the hotel. However, his relatives rejected the explanation and demanded access to the hotel’s closed-circuit television footage to establish what actually happened.
The situation reportedly became tense, prompting operatives of the Azikiwe Police Division to respond to a distress call and restore order at the premises.
The deceased’s elder brother, identified as Obomate, said the family was informed of Charles’ death at about 5am on Thursday.
According to him, the family was told that Charles had fallen from the balcony, but members who visited the scene claimed they observed signs they believed were inconsistent with an ordinary fall.
Obomate said, “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.”
He further said the family became more concerned after medical personnel reportedly raised questions about the nature of the injuries sustained by the deceased.
Obomate alleged that a doctor who examined Charles’ body suspected that the injury to his stomach could have been caused by a sharp object and also observed an injury around his neck.
He therefore called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that justice was served.
Following the incident, the police reportedly sealed the hotel and directed guests and other occupants to vacate the premises temporarily.
A source familiar with the incident said the police action could be aimed at preserving the scene and preventing possible tampering with evidence while investigations continue.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, said the deceased was initially taken to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead, before his family and friends brought his remains back to the hotel to demand an explanation.
Agabe said the situation became tense before police operatives arrived at the scene.
She added that about five persons, including some people who were reportedly with the deceased the previous night and some hotel staff, were taken in connection with the investigation.
The police spokesperson said the hotel was sealed as part of efforts to properly investigate the incident.
According to her, “The investigation is ongoing to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the incident.”
The corpse has since been removed and deposited at an undisclosed mortuary by the police, while investigation into the circumstances surrounding the young man’s death continues.
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