A family somewhere may still be unaware that one of their own is lying in a mortuary in Calabar, after an unidentified woman was found dead in a hotel room on Clifford Street, Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The woman had checked into the hotel with a male companion whose identity remains unknown, and police have now launched a manhunt for him as investigations continue.
According to a statement signed by the Cross River State Police Command's spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Calabar, the case was reported by the hotel's own management.
‘The Cross River State Police Command has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of an unidentified female guest at a hotel along Clifford Street, Calabar South. The incident was reported to the Police on 8 September 2026, at about 0800hrs, by the Director of the hotel, accompanied by the Hotel Manager and the receptionist on duty,’ the statement read.
Investigators later established how the woman came to be at the hotel in the first place.
‘Preliminary investigation revealed that on 7 September 2026, at about 2000hrs, an unidentified male guest reportedly lodged in Room 2 of the hotel with a female companion whose identity is yet to be established. The male guest was allegedly not properly documented at the point of admission,’ the statement said.
It was a receptionist's routine check that led to the grim discovery.
‘In the early hours of 7 September, 2026, the receptionist reportedly observed that the door to Room 2 was open and, believing that the occupants had checked out, entered the room to switch off the ceiling fan. Upon switching on the light, he reportedly discovered the female guest lying unresponsive on the bed. Investigators who visited the scene observed apparent marks of violence on the face and neck and documented the scene accordingly,’ part of the statement read.
The woman's body was then taken away for further examination.
‘The body was subsequently evacuated to the General Hospital, Calabar, where she was confirmed dead and deposited at the mortuary pending further investigation and any necessary medical or forensic examination. Some tablets were also recovered from the deceased's handbag and secured as exhibits. The Police have not established any connection between the tablets and the cause of death at this stage,’ the statement added.
The receptionist who found her has since been taken into custody to help investigators piece together what happened, though police were careful to note that his detention ‘should not be construed as a determination of guilt.’
Efforts are ongoing to identify and locate the male guest who was with the woman before her death.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has directed that the investigation be conducted professionally, objectively and in accordance with the law, to establish the identity of the deceased, the cause of death and the roles of all persons connected to the incident.
He assured the public that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted according to law, while urging residents to avoid speculation and the spread of unverified information.
Members of the public with credible information on the identity of the deceased or the whereabouts of the male guest have been asked to contact the nearest police station.
The Police say further updates will be released as the investigation progresses.
Comments (0)
Please sign in to join the conversation.
Loading comments...