A hotel fire in Benin City, Edo State, has resulted in the confirmed deaths of three people.
The State Police Command spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, verified the event in a statement on Monday. According to Nwabuzor, the fire broke out on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at approximately 4 a.m. on the first floor of the Cibeles Luxury Hotel, which is situated at 9 Emoavwodua Street, off Limit Road, off Sapele.
According to the PPRO, there have been several arrests made in relation to the fire incident.
According to Nwabuzor, the hotel occupants Bright Amechi, Michael Awowea, and Cynthia Ogiugo were asleep in their rooms when the fire broke out.
“The DPO contacted the Edo State Fire Service, which came and extinguished the fire. Three persons were found unconscious due to suffocation from the smoke,” the statement read.
“They were immediately rushed to Edo State Specialist Hospital on Sapele Road, Benin City, and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where Bright Amechi and Michael Awowea were confirmed dead.
“While at Edo State Specialist Hospital, Cynthia Ogiugo was confirmed dead. The corpses have been deposited at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital mortuary in Benin City
“The statement of Emmanuel Ogunyemi, the supervisor on duty at the time of the incident, alleged that the fire outbreak emanated from one of the rooms on the first floor of the hotel that was occupied by a lodger.
“The lodger of the said room, Andrew Roberts of Sapele Road, Benin City, was contacted, and his statement was taken. He said in his statement that the fire was caused by an electrical fault from the air conditioner in his room,” he said.
“According to the DPO, some persons have been arrested while investigations are ongoing to determine their culpability or innocence.”
