A hotel in Owhelogbo community, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, has been sealed off after shocking discoveries of ritual killings and kidnappings. The hotel owner, Chief Joseph Ovie Oghole, and some staff members have been arrested after a customer named Sunday Ogofotha was murdered while staying there.
How the Crime Was Discovered
Sunday, Ogofotha, a businessman from Lagos, travelled to Owhelogbo for a family funeral on Friday, March 22. He checked into the hotel but was later reported missing by his family. When his relatives and local vigilantes arrived at the hotel to search for him, they were met with resistance from the hotel owner and staff.
After a heated argument, the family forced their way into a locked room. Inside, they found Sunday Ogofotha’s lifeless body, tied up with visible signs of torture and injuries. His private parts had been mutilated.
More Shocking Discoveries
Investigators found a POS machine and other valuables belonging to a POS operator who was murdered at the same hotel last year. The security guard’s wife allegedly confessed that her husband killed the POS operator and buried her behind the hotel.
Further inspection of the hotel revealed a hidden passage at the back leading to a bush and a stream, which wasn’t fenced—unlike the front and sides of the hotel. Locals believe this was where most of the crimes took place.
Authorities Take Action
The Isoko North Local Government Chairman, Godwin Ogorugba, ordered the hotel to be sealed off on March 25 after learning of the gruesome activities. He also warned other hotel owners that any business involved in criminal activities would face the full force of the law.
Ogorugba said, “We will not tolerate such evil in our communities. The police are actively investigating, and those responsible will be brought to justice.”
The hotel owner, the security guard, and his wife have all been arrested, and police investigations are ongoing.
What Happens Next?
As of now, the body of Sunday Ogofotha has been taken to the morgue, and the police are gathering more evidence. The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, has yet to make an official statement, but sources confirm that authorities are treating this case with urgency.
The local government has also imposed a curfew in the area to improve public safety and prevent further crimes.
