Father Seeks Justice Over Mysterious Death of Son in Lagos Hotel Pool
A grieving father, Henry Airenekhuemen, has demanded justice over the mysterious death of his 29-year-old son, Mathias Ihenyen, who reportedly drowned in a swimming pool at Signatious Hotel in the Ajao Estate area of Lagos State. The incident has raised serious questions and suspicions within the family, who are calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Airenekhuemen recounted that his son had attended a pool party at the hotel on Saturday evening to sell tickets and earn some money. He received a distressing call from one of his son's elder brothers informing him that Mathias had been rushed to Isolo General Hospital and that a family member was urgently needed. Upon arriving at the hospital, the father was shocked to find his son's lifeless body in the back seat of the car that had transported him to the medical facility.
"I was called by one of my son's elder brothers, who told me that Mathias had been rushed to the Isolo General Hospital and that a family member was needed. When I got to the hospital, I saw my son's lifeless body in the back seat of the car that brought him," he narrated. "When I asked what had happened, I was told that he drowned in the swimming pool at the Signatious Hotel in Ajao Estate."
Suspicious Circumstances and Unanswered Questions
The father further explained that he spoke to his son's friend, who claimed to have been with Mathias and a lady at the time. According to the friend, about five minutes after leaving them, he tried to call Mathias's phone but received no response. Upon returning to their spot, the lady informed him that Mathias had left, while showing his phone, which was still there and charging. It was during a search that the friend allegedly found Mathias's body in the swimming pool.
However, Airenekhuemen raised significant doubts about the drowning claim, pointing to unusual physical signs on the body. "If he truly drowned, why was his stomach flat instead of being swollen? And why was there foam coming out of his mouth and nose?" he questioned, highlighting inconsistencies that suggest foul play or negligence.
Police Involvement and Ongoing Investigation
The family immediately reported the incident to the police, who visited the hospital, took photographs of the body, and later moved it to the morgue. Police officers subsequently accompanied the family to the hotel to examine the scene. During this visit, questions were raised about the presence of a diver or pool supervisor at the time of the incident, but no clear answers were provided.
So far, three persons have been detained at the Ajao Estate Police Division in connection with the case:
- The hotel manager, who was invited to the station and asked to provide CCTV footage, claimed he had just started working at the hotel and has been detained.
- The lady who was with Mathias at the time was also invited to the station, where she wrote her statement and is currently detained.
- His friend, who claimed to have found him in the swimming pool, was also detained.
Further Suspicious Developments
Adding to the family's suspicions, Airenekhuemen revealed that they received a call from a man claiming to be a staff member of the hotel, who made entreaties regarding settling the issue. "Two things that made the death of my son look fishy were that on Sunday, one of my sons, Lucky, got a call from someone who said he was a staff member of the hotel. The person asked him what he wanted to settle the whole issue," he lamented. "Another was that the pool party went on that night despite the fact that my son was found dead in the swimming pool."
The family continues to seek answers and justice, urging authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation to uncover the truth behind Mathias Ihenyen's untimely death.
