The Lagos State Police Command has sealed Signatious Hotel in Ajao Estate following the mysterious death of Mattias Airenekhueme at the facility, PUNCH Metro reports.
Mattias reportedly attended a pool party at the hotel on Saturday, January 31, where he had gone to sell tickets and earn money before the tragedy occurred.
His father, Henry Airenekhueme, said he received a distress call from one of Mattias’ elder brothers, informing him that his son had been rushed to Isolo General Hospital and that a family member was urgently needed.
“When I arrived, I found his lifeless body still inside the vehicle that brought him to the hospital,” Henry said.
Three people—the hotel manager and two of Mattias’ friends—were initially arrested in connection with the incident. A police source confirmed that the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, sealed the hotel as part of ongoing investigations.
The source added that the organiser of the pool party had also been arrested, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to four.
“The police have sealed the hotel pending ongoing investigations. The organiser of the pool party is also in custody,” the source said.
Henry said an autopsy is being conducted to determine the exact cause of Mattias’ death.
He recounted that one of Mattias’ friends told the family they had been sitting with a lady before Mattias stepped away briefly. “When he returned about five minutes later, he tried calling my son with no response. The lady said he had left, but his phone was still charging. Later, they found his body in the swimming pool,” Henry explained.
However, the father expressed doubts about the drowning explanation, pointing to unusual physical signs on Mattias’ body. “If he truly drowned, why was his stomach flat instead of swollen? And why was there foam coming out of his mouth and nose?” he questioned.
The family immediately reported the incident to the police, who documented the case and deposited Mattias’ body in the morgue. Henry also alleged that a man claiming to be a hotel staff member later called, asking what it would take to “settle” the matter.
He further claimed that the pool party continued the same night despite the discovery of his son’s body.
Attempts to reach Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, for comment were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages to her were not answered.
The incident has renewed concerns about safety standards at hotels and recreational centres, amid recurring cases of drownings and other fatalities at similar facilities across the state.
