As men of the Edo State Police Command try to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of a Benin bolt driver who was beaten by some guests in a hotel before he died, the managing director of De-Kaso Hotel, Eric Osaigbovo weekend said he was lucky to have escaped alive when rampaging youths’ numbering over 100 stormed the hotel in a bid to set it ablaze.
Osaigbovo, who absolved himself and his staff of any wrongdoing in the fracas which led to the death of the bolt driver, Osarodion Osemwhenkhai, disclosed that he was nowhere within the hotel premises when the said incident occurred.
The death of Osarodion Osemwhenkhai last week sparked a protest by members of the E-hailing Drivers in Benin, demanding the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the killing of their colleague.
Narrating his ordeal, the managing director of the hotel said his attention was drawn by one of his staff, which made him rush to the hotel only to discover that the fracas had ended and was told that the bolt driver was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
He said a few hours later, a group of boys laid siege on the hotel, and before he could try to escape, someone identified him as the owner of the hotel, and he was beaten to a stupor by rampaging youths who also did not spare properties in the hotel.
He added that from the CCTV footage showing the family of the late bolt driver, no single staff of the hotel was involved in the attack and that he wasn’t even around when the incident occurred.
He alleged, “It was the checkout guest, as seen in the CCTV video, that beat the driver, and NSCDC staff also joined in beating the late driver. The people involved are known. I’m completely innocent; not even a single drink was spared.
“I was told a cab man wanted to hit the car of a guest checking out, which led to a fight. Someone had to give the late bolt driver N10,000 to treat himself after the beating. I was told that the NSCDC personnel took the driver to their office.
“I was in my hotel room, and all of a sudden, I saw more than a hundred boys; they brought a dead body to my hotel before I knew what was happening. They started destroying everything in my hotel, and they wanted to set it ablaze. I was beaten to a point where I no longer knew where I was before the police came to my rescue.
Meanwhile, the police public relations officer (PPRO), CSP Moses Yamu, who confirmed the killing, said four officers of the NSCDC had been arrested and were in police custody.
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