IGP not owing N625m hotel lodging debt – Opu-Nembe

The leadership and people of Opu-Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has dismissed allegations that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, is indebted to the tune of N625 million.

The debt allegedly accrued after the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, led by CSP Silas Adebayo, occupied Euphemie Motel, a popular hotel located in Opu-Nembe, from August 12, 2023, during a sting operation ahead of the governorship elections in the area.

In a statement, the leadership of the community, described as “misleading and cheap blackmail”, the attempt by the owner of the hotel, Chief Darius Obiene-Dede, to drag the IGP into the issue of the community’s use of the facility for law enforcement agencies.

They noted that it was the community that gave hotel for the use of the Police Team, stressing that the IGP was not involved

The leadership of the community represented by the Chairman, Deputy- Chief council, Chief Okolo Dede; Chairman, elders council, Indoma Igbalbo; Chairman, special elders council, Igbogi Yemabise Amalagha; Chairman, CDC, Mr. Konbonimi Awori; Youth President, Mr. Toinpre Sambo; Young Ladies President, Mrs. Beatrice Awululu Numoyu; and Chairman Opu- Nembe Council of Chiefs, Chief Yousuo Theo Iruo, said it is not true that the Police team invaded Opu-Nembe and forcefully took over the facility.

According to them, contrary to what Chief Obiene would want the world to believe, it was the community that requested the deployment of the SWAT team following the insecurity that has descended on Opu-Nembe which needed a neutral Police team to handle.

They pointed out that before the arrival of the Police Team at the hotel, the facility was in a derelict condition, where snakes and other reptiles seek refuge.

They therefore stated that the Hotel’s attempt to force a debt of N625 Million at N50,000 per night for 50 rooms for 13 months on the IGP is not only laughable but a sad display of dishonesty which is least expected from Chief Daruis Obiene.

“If the hotel owner is no longer interested in allowing the community to use his facility, he should follow the right procedure and write to the community which would seek an alternative accommodation for the Police team,” they added.