Tension broke out at a hotel in Eagle Island Estate, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday morning, August 27, 2026, following the death of a young man identified as Charles.
The deceased’s relatives and friends reportedly went to the hotel after receiving news of his death and demanded an explanation from the management.
The family was reportedly told that Charles had fallen from the balcony of a two-storey building located behind the hotel. However, his relatives questioned the account, saying they did not find anything at the scene that clearly showed he had fallen from the balcony.
They subsequently demanded access to the hotel’s CCTV footage, hoping it would help establish what happened before Charles’ death.
The situation became tense, prompting officers from the Azikiwe Police Division in Port Harcourt to respond to a distress call from the hotel. The officers reportedly arrived at the scene and intervened as the disagreement intensified.
Charles’ elder brother, Obomate, said the family first received the news at about 5am on Thursday.
He said, “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.
“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 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.”
Despite the police intervention, Obomate said the family remained interested in obtaining the CCTV recording from the hotel.
He also called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
“My brother cannot die like that. That’s why we want a thorough investigation to know what really happened,” he said.
Following the incident, the police reportedly shut the hotel and directed everyone inside, including guests, to leave the premises temporarily.
A source familiar with the matter said the decision may have been taken to preserve the scene, protect possible evidence from being interfered with and prevent the situation from escalating into further violence.
“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 before they leave and the body is disposed of,” the source said.
As of Thursday afternoon, efforts to speak with the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Blessing Agabe, were unsuccessful.
The body of the deceased has since been removed by the police and taken to an undisclosed mortuary.
The circumstances surrounding Charles’ death remain unclear, with the family demanding further investigation to determine exactly what happened at the hotel.
