By Jonathan Ugbal
The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed that an unidentified lady died on the premises of Planet Guest House, a hotel in Calabar Municipal on Saturday, October 22, 2022.
Information reaching our newsroom suggests that the lady checked into the hotel with a man but was found dead after the hotel management could not reach any guest in the room via the intercom system.
The spokesperson of the Command, SP Irene Ugbo, told CrossRiverWatch on the phone that she could not provide details as the suspects have only just been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department at Diamond Hill from the State Housing Police Division.
She did not state the number of staff of the hotel that was arrested. But, the finding reveals that the Manager, the security staff, and some others on duty were arrested and detained since Saturday.
When CrossRiverWatch visited the hotel premises located off Clement Ebri Drive at the State Housing Estate on Tuesday afternoon, business was ongoing as usual with staff speaking about the incident in low tones while scrutinizing thoroughly, anyone who stepped into the premises.
Also, SP Ugbo confirmed the kidnapping of a businessman in Calabar South Local Government Area.
The businessman, unnamed, has a beverages shop along Donald Duke Drive, formerly known as New Airport road in the Ekpo Abasi axis of Calabar South Local Government Area. He was kidnapped on Saturday night.
“We are on it,” she said when pressed for details. But, neighbors of the businessman who did not want their name in print say the abduction happened between 10:00 PM and 10:30PM on Saturday.
“They waited for him to turn off his generator with his family outside and he was about to close the protector when they approached him, dragged him on the floor, entered their vehicle, and took off,” one neighbor said.
A second added that: “They drove via Musaha street with speed. I did not know what had happened until people now said they were kidnappers. They did not fire a shot.”