A final student of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, on Sunday, mysteriously drowned in a swimming pool at one of the popular hotels in Abakaliki, the capital city.
The victim, who was simply identified as Christian, drowned at Sandiego Hotel, located on old Enugu Road, Abakaliki.
Investigations by Southern City News, revealed that the deceased was swimming with his friends inside the pool when the incident happened.
It was further gathered that he was rushed to the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, where he was confirmed dead by medical doctors.
An eye witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as mysterious, saying,
“Everything happened so sudden and everyone at the pool was taken by surprise.
“It was his friends who raised the alarm that alerted everyone at the hotel.”
Following the incident, it was gathered that the hotel manager, Mr Austin Egbude, as well as the deceased’s friends, were taken into custody by the security agents from Kpirikpiri Police Division, Abakaliki, for questioning and were thereafter released.
The hotel manager, Egbude, confirmed the incident to journalists but noted that Sandiego was not the first hotel that had recorded such incident.
“This is not the first time this type of thing is happening. It has happened in other hotels in Abakaliki and it was not reported anywhere. What is so special about this one? What happened was not a hidden thing and it was reported to the police,” Egbude said, in anger.
The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed the incident.
The Command’s spokesperson, Mrs Loveth Odah, said the management of the hotel reported the matter to the police.
“We are aware of it. It is a tragedy. The hotel management reported the matter to us,” Odah said.
