The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja Police Command, has sealed a hotel in the Gwarinpa area where the body of a young woman was found dead, half naked on Sunday morning
The woman, identified as Aladi Offikwu Johnson, also known as Tessy, was seen under mysterious circumstances, with her hands tied behind her back inside one of the rooms at the hotel located off 3rd Avenue, Gwarinpa.
The incident, which has since gone viral on social media through a disturbing video, has prompted a police investigation, with key hotel staff now being questioned.
A staff member of the hotel, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the victim had checked into the hotel with a man who had earlier been seen with another woman.
“The man (the suspect) came in with a woman initially. He left with that woman and later returned with this one [the deceased],” the staff member said.
“He wasn’t a regular customer here. He checked in, and everything seemed normal. Later, he left again without anyone suspecting anything was wrong.”
According to the source, the body was discovered by a cleaner who had gone to tidy the room.
“The cleaner knocked on the door on Sunday morning and noticed it was open. He saw the girl lying on the bed and thought she was asleep, so he didn’t disturb her.
“He went to clean other rooms, but when he returned and found her in the same position, he became concerned and called the manager. That’s when they realized she was dead.”
The scene reportedly showed signs of foul play. A syringe was discovered near the woman’s body, and her mobile phone was missing.
“We saw a syringe beside her. Her phone was gone too. So we suspect she was robbed,” the staff added.
To make matters worse, the hotel’s surveillance system was not operational at the time of the incident.
“Unfortunately, the CCTV wasn’t working. That’s why we don’t have any footage of what happened in or around that room.
“Even the girls that work here said they don’t know her — she’s not someone we’ve seen before,” the source disclosed.
He corroborated what a regular visitor to the hotel told THE WHISTLER that “the body has been deposited at the mortuary.”
He revealed the receptionist on duty fled after the incident was discovered.
Police Seal Abuja Hotel Where Half-Naked Woman Was Robbed, Murdered
Meanwhile, the cleaner and another receptionist have been taken in by the police for questioning, he further revealed.
When THE WHISTLER visited the Gwarinpa Police Division to obtain official comment, officers confirmed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was unavailable to speak on the matter.
A police source, however, confirmed that the case has been escalated.
“We are investigating a possible case of robbery and homicide. For now, we have sealed the premises as investigations continue,” the officer said, declining to provide further details.
The officer also revealed that “the brother of the deceased has been here meeting with the DPO and they left the station together.”
In a subsequent press release, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said the police commissioner, Ajao S. Adewale, has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the lady’s death.
Quoting Josephine, “Preliminary investigation reveals that the victim, later identified as Aladi Offikwu Johnson, also known as Tessy, a female from Benue State, checked into a hotel located at 3rd Avenue, Gwarinpa, on 16th June, 2025, in the company of an unidentified male who was later observed to have exited the premises without her.
“The victim was discovered unconscious by hotel staff during routine service rounds, prompting immediate notification to the Police. She was confirmed dead upon medical evaluation.
“While the investigation is ongoing, the Commissioner of Police urges members of the public to remain calm and allow the Police to carry out a comprehensive inquiry.
“The Commissioner advises young ladies to exercise caution in their interactions, especially with unfamiliar individuals, and to always share their whereabouts with trusted friends or family members for safety purposes.
“He also calls on hotel operators to strengthen internal security protocols, including mandatory identity verification for guests and the installation of functional surveillance systems to aid both deterrence and investigation.”
The latest incident joins cases of women being abused or even killed by men they accompanied to hotels in the nation’s capital.
Last year, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command arrested a 30-year-old man named Efe for allegedly tying a woman, Olivia Chukwuemeka, to a chair in a hotel room in the Wuse area of the FCT.
According to reports, the victim’s legs and hands were tied with tape.
Reporting by Tayo Olu, Isuma Isuma and Chika Mefor-Nwachukwu
