Ondo hotel speaks on missing vice principal, says incident ‘unfortunate’

The management of Sunview Hotel, Akure, Ondo State, said it is working with security agencies to unravel the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Mr Olaloye Olatunde, a vice principal who went missing after lodging at the facility during a training programme.
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It had earlier reported that Olatunde, who travelled from Owo on Sunday, August 24, 2025, to attend a training organised by some non-governmental organisations, lodged at the hotel but was not seen again after three days.

His belongings were later discovered in his room.‎

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that at least four persons had been arrested in connection with the disappearance, adding that investigation was ongoing.

Speaking with journalists in Akure on Thursday, the General Manager of the hotel, Kenneth Ekpeyong, described the incident as “unfortunate,” stressing that the facility had followed due process and was fully cooperating with the authorities.

According to him, Olatunde was one of 58 participants who lodged at the hotel for the training, which began on Sunday, August 24, and was scheduled to end the following Saturday.

The GM said, “The guest in question came for a programme along with others. Fifty-eight participants came in for the programme, which started on Sunday and was supposed to end on Saturday. The sessions in the hall ran from Monday to Friday.

‎”By Friday, the last day of the programme, we approached the organiser to hold a forum where we could receive feedback on our service delivery.”

Ekpeyong explained that the alarm was first raised when the missing guest failed to sign his bill on the last day of the programme.

He said, “While settling the bills, our front office manager discovered that only one participant had not signed his bill. On inquiry, a lady said the person was not around that Friday.

‎”On Saturday, we got in touch with the programme organiser, noting that the participant had not checked out of the hotel. The organiser instructed that his belongings be removed from the room and kept safely in housekeeping, to avoid extra charges, so that he could collect them whenever he returned. Nobody thought much about it again until Sunday, when the missing man’s brother came to ask after him. That was when we became worried.‎

‎”We immediately contacted the programme organiser, and it was confirmed that the missing man was the same person who had not signed his bill. By Monday, we held a meeting on what to do. We advised the organisers to report the matter to the police since they brought the participants, but they declined. When they failed to cooperate, we took the step of going to the police ourselves, only to discover that the family had already reported the case.”

The GM further stated that the hotel had petitioned the police through the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, after which the case was referred to the state command for proper handling.

“The matter was then assigned to the anti-kidnapping unit, while the Department of State Services also launched an independent probe.

“We want to make it clear that we have formally complained and there is evidence of our written petition to the police,” the GM added.