A man in his 30s, John Paul, has hanged himself in a hotel in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State, where he paid to lodge for a day.
A source learnt that Paul, who was married with children, was discovered dangling from a rope in his room at Ascort Hotel by one of the hotel workers.
Our correspondent gathered that the matter was brought to the attention of the hotel manager, identified only as Ayedapa, who reported the matter at the FESTAC Town Police Division.
A police source told our correspondent that Paul, who did not inform his family members that he was checking into a hotel, was believed to have committed suicide as a result of financial challenges.
He said, “Paul checked into the hotel on Monday, October 24, and he was supposed to spend 24 hours. On the following day, the deceased was supposed to check out by 12pm.
“When the hotel workers did not see him, they went to his room and discovered through the window that he had hanged himself with a rope.
“The manager, Mr. Ayedapa, came to report the matter at the police station. Policemen went there and took photographs and removed the corpse.
“On the same day, the family members, led by Paul’s wife, Ugochukwu, who were not aware that he lodged into any hotel, came to the station to report a case of a missing person. That was how they discovered that he had committed suicide in a hotel.
“The police suspect that the man was depressed. But many details cannot be divulged at the moment.”
Another source said, “The man’s relations identified his corpse, and it was deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary for an autopsy.”
Our correspondent learnt that officials of the Lagos State Emergency Service also came to the area to assist in the removal of the corpse.
When our correspondent got to the hotel on Wednesday, a receptionist, who identified himself only as Ighodalo, said the manager, Ayedapa, was unavailable for comment.
He said, “The manager is not in. I do not have his telephone number. You may check back another time to speak with him. I was not on duty on the day of the incident, but I heard about it. It happened.”
At the deceased’s rented apartment on 322 Road, J Close, PUNCH Metro was told that the family members were not available for comment.
An elder brother of the deceased, who did not want his name in print, asked our correspondent to check back at another time.
“His wife is grieving and the family members are sad. We do not have anything to say on this matter. Please, come at another time,” he said.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident.
“Investigation is ongoing,” she added.