Tension reportedly gripped a hotel in Eagle Island Estate, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after a man identified as Okorite Charles died under circumstances that have raised questions among his family and friends.
The incident occurred on Thursday, August 27, 2026, and led to the police shutting down the hotel as investigations commenced into the circumstances surrounding the man's death.
According to reports, the deceased was initially said to have fallen from the balcony of a two-storey building located at the rear of the hotel.
However, members of his family reportedly questioned the explanation after visiting the scene and allegedly observing what they described as signs of a struggle and traces of blood.
The deceased's family and friends later arrived at the hotel demanding an explanation from the management. The situation reportedly became tense, prompting officers from the Azikiwe Police Division to intervene and restore calm.
Charles' elder brother, identified as Obomate, said the family received news of his brother's death at about 5 a.m. on Thursday.
He explained that the family was informed that Charles had fallen from the balcony, but said they did not find evidence at the scene that appeared consistent with such an accident.
According to him, the family also received information from a doctor at the hospital where Charles was taken which raised further questions about the nature of his injuries.
“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 said.
Obomate further claimed that the doctor who examined Charles suspected that an injury to his stomach could have been caused by a stab wound, while another injury around his neck suggested that he may have been struck with an object.
The family has consequently called for a thorough investigation and demanded access to the hotel's CCTV footage to establish what happened before Charles' death.
Following the incident, police operatives sealed the hotel and directed guests and other occupants to vacate the premises.
A source familiar with the matter said the police action was intended to preserve the scene and prevent possible interference with evidence while also ensuring the safety of people at the premises.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, confirmed the incident and said the deceased was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Agabe explained that Charles' family and friends subsequently brought his remains to the hotel while seeking answers about his death.
“As the situation became tense, our men arrived there. About five persons, including some persons who were with the deceased the night before and some staff of the hotel,” the police spokesperson said.
She added that the hotel was sealed as part of the investigation and that police operatives were working to establish the immediate and remote causes of the incident.
The police have not established that Charles was murdered, and the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation.