Hotel staff strangled in Kwara, police hunt killer

A hotel receptionist in Ilorin, Kwara State, identified simply as Yemi, has been murdered by yet-to-be-identified assailant(s), sending shockwaves across residents and business owners in the area.

It was learnt that the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when the attacker allegedly gained access into the facility and strangled the young woman while she was on duty.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the case was reported on Sunday, November 16, by the hotel manager.

In a statement made available, the command described the case as culpable homicide, adding that detectives from the A Division were deployed to the scene upon receipt of the distress call.

“The victim was found with a white cloth suspected to have been used to strangulate her,” the police said.

The hotel manager, Mr Akin, confirmed that he was still asleep when he noticed several missed calls from the hotel’s official line.

He said attempts to return the calls were met with a strange warning from an unknown man.

“When I called back, a man picked up and told me never to call the number again. I immediately rushed to the hotel. On getting there, I found Yemi lying lifeless on the floor, and I quickly alerted the police,” he recounted, visibly shaken.

The statement further added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the killing and directed operatives to track down the perpetrator(s).

“Efforts have been intensified to identify and arrest those behind this heinous crime. No stone will be left unturned in ensuring justice is served. Further updates will be communicated as the investigation progresses,” the command assured.

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The gruesome murder has sparked concerns over night-time security in hotels and other hospitality establishments across Ilorin, with some residents calling for improved surveillance and regulatory checks.

In another attack, the Kwara State Police Command confirmed on Tuesday that suspected bandits killed at least two people and injured one during attacks in Eruku, a boundary town in the Ekiti Local Government Area.

A parish of the Christ Apostolic Church was one of the places the bandits attacked. The police said a worshipper was killed during the attack, while another victim’s corpse was found in the bush.