An angry mob on Thursday set ablaze Skelewu Hotel, located in Umuguma Community, Owerri, Imo State.
The incident followed the alleged stabbing of a man, whose name could not be ascertained, to death by a prostitute in the hotel.
The commercial sex worker had allegedly stabbed her client, a married man, to death during an argument over nonpayment after sex at the hotel.
The incident which caused panic in the area, grounded commercial activities as traders hurriedly closed their shops.
Motorists were also forced to take alternative routes as the fire raged.
Policemen have cordon off the hotel as firefighters worked hard to stop the inferno.
It was gathered from the scene of the incident that the commercial sex worker could not bear it when after rounds of a sexual marathons; her customer could not pay her money as agreed.
According to a source at the scene, the prostitute who ran out of patience stabbed him to death.
The source said “a prostitute killed her male friend because he was unable to pay her after sex marathon. This is what happened this afternoon.”
However, angered by the death of the customer, residents mobilized and set the hotel which is said to be a beehive of commercial sexual activities on fire.
Hours after the hotel had been razed military men suspected to have been deployed from the 34 artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, were deployed to the scene to maintain order.
When contacted, the Police Spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, promised to call back.
He had yet to return the call even as he had yet to respond to a text message sent to him, as of the time of filing this report.
However, the Interim Management Committee chairman of Owerri West Local Government Area of the state, Chief Okechukwu Enyioha, said that security men had taken over the scene.
When confirming the incident, the council boss said “yes, I have been briefed and security men have taken of the scene of the incident. The security agents are working hard and the law is being enforced.”
According to him, he had activated the security apparatus in the LGA to ensure that the incident did not degenerate.
The Nation
