Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
LAGOS, Nigeria — Authorities in Lagos State have sealed off Signatious Hotel in the Ajao Estate area as part of an ongoing investigation into the mysterious death of a man whose body was found following a private pool party at the facility. The shut-down and police action came after widespread reporting of the incident, notably by the national newspaper The PUNCH, which brought the case to public attention earlier this week.
The death of Mattias Airenekhueme, a 29-year-old man who attended a poolside event at the hotel on Saturday, January 31, has raised serious questions about the circumstances that led to his death. According to family accounts shared with journalists, Mattias was at the event to sell tickets and earn money. His abrupt collapse and subsequent death triggered immediate concern and prompted police involvement.
Mattias’ father, Henry Airenekhueme, told reporters that he received a distress call from one of his elder sons, who informed him that Mattias had been rushed to Isolo General Hospital. By the time his father arrived, the young man’s body was already in the ambulance, unresponsive and without medical intervention. The family’s description of events has added urgency to calls for a thorough investigation.
Lagos State police sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not officially authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that police operatives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti had sealed the hotel as part of the inquiry into the death. The police also confirmed that four individuals were in custody, including the hotel manager and the organiser of the pool party.
Eyewitness accounts, including those from friends who were with Mattias on the day of the incident, presented conflicting narratives about what happened in the minutes before he was reported missing. According to one account, Mattias was sitting with a woman near the pool when he briefly stepped away. Upon returning, his friends said they could not reach him on his phone, which was found still charging where he left it. Eventually, his body was discovered in the pool itself.
However, family members have cast doubt on the suggestion that drowning was the cause of death. Mr. Airenekhueme pointed to physical signs he observed, including his son’s flat stomach — rather than the typical swollen appearance associated with drowning — and the presence of foam around the mouth and nose, as reasons to question a simple drowning explanation. He has called on investigators to consider all possible causes and urged for transparent reporting on the autopsy findings.
An autopsy is underway as authorities await forensic results to clarify the cause of death, according to the family and police sources. Authorities have not yet released official confirmation of the autopsy’s preliminary results or given a clear timeline for when that information will be made public.
Concerns have also emerged about the hotel’s conduct immediately following the discovery of Mattias’ body. The deceased’s father claimed that the pool party continued later that evening despite the tragedy occurring on the premises, a detail that, if verified, could raise questions about the management’s handling of the incident and adherence to safety or emergency protocols.
Adding to the family’s distress was an alleged phone call from someone claiming to be a hotel staff member who suggested that a financial “settlement” could resolve the matter, although details of that conversation and its context remain unclear. No official comment has been made by the hotel’s representatives on this or other allegations.
Calls to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, for comment on the sealing of the hotel and the status of the investigation were not immediately answered, and text messages seeking official responses had not been replied to at the time of the latest reporting.
The incident has sparked renewed public concern about safety standards at hotels, recreational venues and similar facilities in Lagos, especially those hosting large gatherings or events. Residents and observers have pointed to recurring incidents of drownings, unexplained deaths or violent occurrences in hospitality settings across the city, and have called for more stringent safety protocols and regulatory oversight to prevent future tragedies.
While lagging official responses have frustrated some on social media and within the victim’s community, law enforcement has maintained that the priority is to secure the scene, complete forensic examinations and gather evidence that will withstand judicial scrutiny. This includes interviews with witnesses, examinations of CCTV footage if available, and comprehensive analysis of forensic medical data once autopsy results are returned.
As investigations continue, family members and civil society activists alike are urging authorities to keep the public informed and ensure accountability. The circumstances surrounding Mattias’ death remain unclear, and a definitive cause of death has not yet been announced by officials.
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