• La Casa Hotels has released the Closed Circuit Television, (CCTV) footage from the night of the incident two-night duty security operatives were found dead

• There is clear CCTV footage showing that they brought in plastic jerry cans and were acting suspiciously with their movements around the security house and the diesel tank area in preparation for the planned theft

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the management of La Casa Hotels, Epe has released the Closed Circuit Television, (CCTV) footage from the night of the incident two-night duty security operatives were found dead on her property revealing that they died following their attempt to steal diesel from La Casa Hotels diesel storage.

It also said that the management of the hotel and staff are fully cooperating with the police while police investigations continue.

This online media platform recalls that the incident involving the deceased security operatives as captured on Closed Circuit Camera, CCTV was as a result of alleged illegal siphoning of diesel fuel from the tank.

In a press release and signed by La Casa Hotels, and made available to EKO HOT BLOG revealed details of the scenes from the CCTV from the night of incident that led to the death of the security guards.

The Hotel management said it was important they make the details of the CCTV footage public in order to address the tragedy since some blogs have begun to insinuate a different account of what transpired.

It also said that the CCTV footage captured revealed the affected security operatives engaging in activities outside of their expected job description.

The statement read in part, “Feb 7th 2022: The incident occurred during the night of the 7th of February 2022 when two night duty (7pm – 7am) security operatives contracted through Sherpherdhill Security Limited and Nigeria Man O’ War got involved in diesel theft which is not directly related to their duties.”

“According to CCTV footage night duty security operatives, who go by the names Mr Michael Hollu and Mr Samuel Lawal colluded to steal diesel fuel from the diesel tank during the night, contrary to what they should have been doing as security operatives. There is clear CCTV footage showing that they brought in plastic jerry cans and were acting suspiciously with their movements around the security house and the diesel tank area in preparation for the planned theft.”

“CCTV footage showed further that the door of the generators were opened despite
the fact that there was electricity and they remained open till the discovery was made the morning after. It is suspected that to steal the diesel stored in a 2400 litres
storage tank capacity, the security operatives got into the tank with the aid of a
ladder and a jerry can via the tank access hatch.”

“Feb 8th 2022; At about 6:30am 8th of February, a vehicle tried to gain access to the hotel and the two night duty security operatives were not at their duty post and not available to do their job. The attention of the front desk staff was alerted by the horn of the vehicle and it was at this point the other staff realised something was wrong as it is unusual for the security operatives not to be by their duty post.”

“By 6:45am, when the next set of security operatives (day duty) arrived for handover and yet the night duty security operatives were nowhere to be seen, they decided to conduct an active search around the premises. It was at the point of searching around the diesel tank area that one of the day duty security operatives discovered that the top of the diesel tank was opened with a ladder attached to it. The two day duty security operatives curiously went to investigate why the tank cover was opened and it was at this point that they found the two night duty security operatives inside the tank lifeless with a jerry can that was to be used to siphon the diesel out of the tank.”

“Immediately, the Noforija police station were informed. When the police arrived, they advised that the family of the security operatives be contacted alongside medical personnel from Epe General hospital and Sherpherdhill Security Limited so that there are enough witnesses to the condition the men were discovered alongside the paraphernalia of theft inside and outside the diesel tank area. The bodies were conveyed to Epe general hospital for safe keeping and further investigation.”

“Feb 10th: The representatives of the family were invited to the police station
alongside Sherpherdhill Security Ltd to watch the CCTV footage of what had
transpired and timeline of events at the end of which, they agreed that La Casa Hotel hasn’t done anything wrong leading to the death of the two security operatives.”

La Casa Hotel Management is cooperating with the police officers involved to
conclude the investigation.

The Press Release from La Casa Management: 

The Press Release from La Casa Management: