By: Bayero Ade
A gang of armed men, some disguised in Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) uniforms and others impersonating police officers, launched a violent raid on Seafortunes Hotels Limited on Ago Palace Way, Lagos, last weekend.
According to reports, the attackers, numbering around 30, stormed the hotel around 4 a.m., firing indiscriminately and forcing their way into guest rooms. They spent several hours terrorizing guests and staff, demanding to speak with the hotel owner while looting valuables.
As reported by Afripost, the attackers, who appeared well-prepared and heavily armed, removed the hotel’s power generator using a heavy-duty crane, transporting it to an unknown location.
Nwukwa Fortune, the hotel’s CEO, recounted receiving a distress call from a guest alerting him to the attack. He revealed that the masked intruders overpowered the hotel’s security staff, proceeded to dismantle the generator, and assaulted a nearby neighbor who tried to intervene.
The hotel later reviewed its CCTV footage, which clearly showed the attackers wearing NSCDC uniforms. This led to the identification of one of the suspects, Nicholas, who reportedly had unresolved financial disputes with the hotel’s previous manager.
The attack is believed to be linked to a longstanding debt involving ₦3 million for diesel supplies, owed by the hotel’s former operator, Mr. Ogbonna, to Nicholas. Following a legal dispute, Ogbonna had been arrested and charged in court, but Nicholas allegedly orchestrated the violent raid as a form of retaliation.
During the robbery, the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, and left several guests injured. Many guests fled the scene without settling their bills, while others had their personal belongings stolen.
By the time Ago Palace Police Station officers arrived, the attackers had already fled the scene. However, the CCTV footage assisted in the identification of Nicholas, who was later arrested. He provided valuable information about the stolen generator’s location and implicated his accomplices.
The Lagos State NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Seun Abolurin, stated that there was no official record of the incident at their headquarters and suggested the attackers were likely impersonators. He advised the hotel to file an official report for a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Police spokesperson, David Hundeyin, indicated that he would follow up with the local station. An officer at Ago Palace Police Station confirmed that the incident had been reported, but investigations were still ongoing to verify whether the attackers were indeed NSCDC officers.
Authorities continue to investigate the attack as security agencies work to uncover the full details of the crime.
Leave a Reply