Police hunt male guest after woman found dead in Calabar hotel

Cross River State Police Command has launched a manhunt for an unidentified male guest after a woman was found dead in a hotel room in Calabar South Local Government Area.
The woman, whose identity has yet to be established, was discovered unresponsive on a bed in Room 2 of the hotel on Clifford Street.
The incident was reported to the police at about 8am on Tuesday by the hotel director, accompanied by the manager and receptionist on duty.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, preliminary investigation revealed that the unidentified male guest had checked into the room with the deceased at about 8pm on September 7.
The police said the man was allegedly not properly documented when he checked into the hotel.
Eitokpah said the receptionist noticed in the early hours that the door to the room was open and, assuming the occupants had checked out, entered to switch off the ceiling fan.
He reportedly discovered the woman lying unresponsive on the bed after switching on the light.
“Investigators who visited the scene observed apparent marks of violence on the face and neck and documented the scene accordingly,” the police said.
The woman’s body was evacuated to the General Hospital, Calabar, where she was confirmed dead and deposited at the mortuary pending further investigation and possible medical or forensic examination.
The police also recovered some tablets from the deceased’s handbag, which were secured as exhibits. However, the command said it had not established any connection between the tablets and her death.
The receptionist was taken into custody for questioning to assist investigators in determining how the guests were admitted and what transpired before the body was discovered. The police stressed that his detention should not be interpreted as a determination of guilt.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, directed that the investigation be conducted professionally and objectively to establish the identity of the deceased, the cause of death and the roles of all persons connected with the incident.
The command urged members of the public to avoid speculation and the spread of unverified information, while anyone with credible information on the identity or whereabouts of the male guest was asked to contact the nearest police station.
The police said further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.