Charles’ family disputes the hotel’s account that he fell from a balcony, alleging signs of a struggle and demanding CCTV footage

A young man identified simply as Charles died under suspicious circumstances at a hotel in Eagle Island Estate, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, August 27, 2026, triggering a tense confrontation between his family and the hotel management.

Also read: Rivers police arrest suspect for alleged teenager defilement

The incident caused significant disruption at the hotel after relatives and friends of Charles arrived at the facility demanding answers over his death.

The family disputed the hotel’s account that Charles fell from the balcony of a two-storey building at the rear of the premises, insisting that CCTV footage should be made available to establish what happened.

Charles’ elder brother, Obomate, said the family was informed of the death at about 5am and immediately began seeking clarification.

“I was at home around 5am when they called me. My younger sister said someone had taken pictures and sent them to her, informing her that my younger brother had died,” Obomate said.

He said the family was told that Charles had fallen from the balcony but claimed that their visit to the scene did not immediately support that explanation.

“We visited the hotel, but we did not see any trace indicating that he fell from the balcony,” he said.

According to Obomate, the family instead noticed what appeared to be signs of a struggle at the location where Charles was found.

“What we saw were signs suggesting that someone had struggled or possibly engaged in a fight. The area was scattered, and we also saw traces of blood,” he alleged.

The family’s concerns deepened after they visited the hospital where Charles was taken.

Obomate said a doctor who examined the deceased reportedly expressed doubts that the injuries were consistent with a simple fall.

“When we got to the hospital, the doctor told us that it was not a mere fall. He said the wound he observed on my brother’s stomach appeared to be a stab wound that had penetrated deeply,” Obomate said.

He added that the doctor suspected that Charles may also have sustained an injury to the neck from an object and observed other injuries on his body.

The allegations have not been independently established, and the precise circumstances surrounding Charles’ death remain unclear.

The family’s demand for CCTV footage became a central point of tension as relatives sought access to recordings from the hotel that they believe could help clarify the sequence of events.

As the confrontation escalated, operatives of the Azikiwe Police Division reportedly arrived at the hotel following a distress call and intervened to restore calm.

The police subsequently shut down the hotel and ordered guests and other occupants to leave the premises temporarily.

A source familiar with the incident said the closure was likely intended to preserve the integrity of the scene and prevent possible interference with evidence while also protecting the facility from further confrontation.

“As we speak, the hotel has been closed by the police. They asked everybody to vacate the premises. But the family are still there, asking to see the CCTV before they leave and the body is disposed of,” the source said.

The police action effectively brought activities at the hotel to a halt as investigators began dealing with the circumstances surrounding the death.

The deceased’s remains were later removed and deposited at an undisclosed mortuary by the police.

Obomate said the family was determined to pursue the matter and urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.

“My brother cannot die like that. That’s why we want a thorough investigation to know what really happened,” he said.

The family’s request for CCTV footage is expected to form part of the issues investigators may examine as they work to establish how Charles sustained his injuries and whether his death resulted from an accident or another incident.

As of Thursday afternoon, efforts to obtain an official response from the Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police Blessing Agabe, were unsuccessful.

No arrest or official conclusion on the cause of death had been announced as of the time of filing the report.

Also read: Rivers police rescue kidnapping victim, neutralise suspects

The investigation is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the death, while the conflicting accounts from the hotel and the deceased’s family remain subject to police findings and any subsequent forensic or judicial proceedings.