The Cross River State Police Command has launched an investigation and a manhunt for an unidentified male guest after a woman was found dead in a hotel room in Calabar South Local Government Area.
The deceased, whose identity has yet to be established, was reportedly staying at the hotel on Clifford Street with an unidentified man.
The incident was reported to the police at about 8am on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, by the hotel director, who arrived at the station with the hotel manager and receptionist on duty.
In a statement issued by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, preliminary investigations revealed that the unidentified man checked into Room 2 with the female guest at about 8pm on September 7.
Police said the man’s details were allegedly not properly recorded when he checked into the hotel.
According to the statement, the receptionist later noticed that the door to Room 2 was open. Assuming that the occupants had left, he entered the room to switch off the ceiling fan.
Upon turning on the light, he reportedly discovered the woman lying unresponsive on the bed.
Investigators who visited the scene reportedly observed apparent marks of violence on the woman’s face and neck and documented the scene for further investigation.
The body was subsequently taken to the General Hospital, Calabar, where she was confirmed dead and deposited at the mortuary pending further investigation and any necessary medical or forensic examination.
Police also recovered some tablets from the deceased’s handbag. The command said it had not established any link between the tablets and her death.
Meanwhile, the receptionist has been taken into custody for questioning to assist investigators in determining how the guests were admitted and what happened before the woman was found dead.
However, police stressed that the receptionist’s detention should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt.
The command said efforts were ongoing to identify and locate the male guest who lodged with the deceased.
The Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has directed that the investigation be conducted professionally, objectively and in accordance with the law.
He said the investigation would seek to establish the identity of the deceased, determine the cause of death and ascertain the roles of everyone connected to the incident.
The commissioner assured the public that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He also urged members of the public to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information.
Anyone with credible information about the identity of the deceased or the whereabouts of the unidentified male guest has been urged to contact the nearest police station.
The police said further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.
