Joy Anyim
A security guard at a popular hotel in the Ikotun area of Lagos, De’Maria Hotel, has allegedly shot dead a young man, who was simply identified as Muller, over N7,700 debt.
It was learnt that the deceased had lodged in the hotel located at No. 9 Olokodana Street in Ikotun for two days to celebrate Valentine’s Day with his lover.
He was about vacating his hotel room on February 16, when the hotel receptionist insisted Muller paid an outstanding bill of N7,700. The deceased maintained he did not owe such amount.
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The hotel manager had intervened in the matter but Muller insisted he would not pay such. The security guard, Samson Musibau, was invited to detain the deceased until he paid the said debt.
It was alleged that Muller had brought out a charm to threaten the hotel manager and Musibau. He forcefully pushed away the security guard to run out of the hotel gate when Musibau brought out a locally made pistol and shot him from behind.
He fell and died instantly. When the hotel manager and Musibau discovered Muller was dead, they fled the scene.
Residents of Olokodana Street had alerted the Ikotun Police Division, who took the deceased to the morgue.
A resident, who alleged he was part of the group who alerted the police to the incident said the incident happened about 8pm. He said it was the gun shot that alerted the residents to the incident.
The man, who said he did not want his name in print said, “My house is just adjacent to the hotel. I was sitting outside when I heard the gunshot. People fled for safety.
“After about 15 minutes, a few men and I came out and went around, hoping to trace where the gunshot emanated from. We were, however, shocked when we found the young man lying flat on the ground in front of the hotel gate.
“We immediately called the Divisional Police Officer, who sent a team of policemen that night. They took the body of the man away and asked us a few questions on what had happened.
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“The surprising aspect of it all was that when we tried to call the hotel management’s attention to the incident, none of them was around. We only saw a few lodgers, who even said they were afraid when they heard the gunshot and had to lock up their rooms.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said Musibau had been arrested.
Oti said, “The man was a lodger, who had an argument with the security man at the hotel. The security man allegedly brought out a locally made pistol and shot him.
“We have arrested the security man and the case is currently being investigated by the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti in Yaba.The suspect will be charged to court after the investigation.”
