By Deborah Nnamdi
Angry youths in Owheologbo, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, set fire to Century Home Hotel following the mysterious death of a guest, Mr. Sunday Ogofotha. Ogofotha had traveled from Lagos to attend a relative’s funeral when he met his untimely demise.
This led to the arrest of four hotel staff members, while the hotel owner, Chief Joshua Oghoole, was questioned, released, and cleared by the police. A community source, who wished to remain anonymous, suggested that the youths’ actions were likely fueled by the police’s decision to absolve the hotel owner.
Although the full details of the incident remain unclear, Police Public Relations Officer SP. Bright Edafe confirmed that the hotel was set on fire by a mob. He also mentioned that another hotel owned by Oghoole in the area had previously been targeted.
The chairman of Isoko North Local Government Area, Elder Godwin Ogorugba, had earlier sealed the hotel while issuing a strong warning to individuals who use their structures for illegal activities, including kidnapping, that the wrath of the law shall catch up with them.
The recovered remains of Ogofotha were deposited at an undisclosed morgue in Ozoro.
