A tragic murder has rocked Owheologbo, Isoko North Local Government Area in Delta State, after Mr. Sunday Ogofotha, a guest at Century Home Hotel, was found brutally killed while attending a funeral. The chilling details behind his death have begun to emerge following a police investigation.
The Delta State Police Command paraded four suspects in connection with the crime, shedding light on a sinister conspiracy involving the hotel manager. According to Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, Ogofotha had checked into the hotel and informed his wife of his whereabouts. When she later tried to reach him without success, she became worried and reached out to his relatives.
Upon investigation, the hotel manager initially denied knowing Ogofotha was staying at the hotel. However, after his arrest, the manager confessed that two men had bribed him with ₦5 million to help them get access to the victim.
The hotel manager, Godwin Ogheneochuko Iboyirode, described how the two men approached him on March 21, 2025, claiming they needed to speak with Ogofotha about something they wanted to collect from him. In return, they promised him a hefty payout. The victim had arrived at the hotel around 10 p.m. and was seated outside when the suspects first approached.
After some time, the manager checked on Ogofotha’s room, only to find it locked from the outside with a padlock. One of the suspects had already fled the scene. By evening, the hotel began to smell of decay, and fearing the worst, the manager fled the premises, spending the night away from the hotel.
The next morning, when he returned, community vigilantes had discovered the foul smell and attacked the manager. The police later confirmed that Ogofotha had been stabbed multiple times, leading to his death. Thanks to Ogofotha’s earlier communication with his wife, the police were able to trace his final location.
Shocking further revelations indicate that the manager had been involved with the suspects before, dating back to December 2024, when they brought a girl to the hotel who is now also confirmed to have been killed.
Angry youths, dissatisfied with the police’s handling of the case, took matters into their own hands and set the hotel on fire. In response, the local government authorities, led by Chairman Elder Godwin Ogorugba, sealed the hotel.
As investigations continue, both into the murder and the subsequent arson, SP Edafe stressed the importance of informing loved ones about one’s whereabouts for safety. The police have arrested the hotel manager and two suspects, but they are still working to uncover the full extent of this disturbing plot.
