•Late Mattias
The Lagos State Police Command has sealed Signatious Hotel in the Ajao Estate area of the state following the mysterious death of Mattias Airenekhueme at the facility
Mattias was said to have attended a pool party at the hotel on Saturday, January 31, where he had gone to sell tickets and earn money before the tragedy occurred, reports The PUNCH.
His father, Henry Airenekhueme, told our correspondent that he received a distress call that day from one of Mattias’ elder brothers informing him that the young man had been rushed to the Isolo General Hospital and that a family member was urgently needed.
According to him, he arrived at the hospital only to find his son’s lifeless body still inside the vehicle that brought him to the facility.
Airenekhueme disclosed that three persons — the hotel manager and two of Mattias’ friends — were initially arrested in connection with the incident.
Speaking with our correspondent, a police source, who did not want to be identified because he was not permitted to speak with the media on the matter, confirmed that operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, had sealed the hotel as part of ongoing investigations.
The source added that the organiser of the pool party had also been arrested, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to four.
“The police have sealed the hotel pending an ongoing investigation into the incident. The organiser of the pool party is also currently in police custody,” the source said.
Airenekhueme further revealed that an autopsy was being conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
“An autopsy is being carried out by the police. We are waiting for the outcome,” he said.
Recounting what he was told about the incident, Airenekhueme said one of Mattias’ friends, who took him to the hospital, claimed they had been sitting together with a lady before he briefly stepped away.
“He said when he returned about five minutes later and tried calling my son, there was no response. The lady told him my son had left the spot, but his phone was still there charging. While searching for him, they later found his body in the swimming pool,” the father narrated.
However, Airenekhueme expressed doubts about the drowning narrative, citing what he described as unusual physical signs on his son’s body.
“If he truly drowned, why was his stomach flat instead of swollen? And why was there foam coming out of his mouth and nose?” he queried.
He said the family immediately reported the case to the police, who visited the hospital, documented the incident, and deposited the body in the morgue.
Also, he alleged that the family later received a call from a man who claimed to be a hotel staff member and asked what it would take to “settle” the matter.
He further claimed that the pool party continued that same night despite the discovery of his son’s body.
Efforts to get a response from the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, were unsuccessful, as calls to her line were not answered. A text message sent to her had yet to be replied to as of the time of filing this report.
The incident has renewed concerns over safety standards at hotels and recreational centres, amid recurring cases of drownings and other fatalities at such facilities across the state.
