By Kazeem Waris
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspect and launched a discreet investigation into the suspected murder of a hotel staff member following an alleged physical altercation at a hotel in Utako, Abuja.
The victim, identified as Joseph Terdoo, reportedly sustained multiple injuries during a confrontation with Samuel Net, a tiler hired by the hotel, and was rushed to Wuse District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The FCT Police Commissioner, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, ordered the investigation following the incident, which was reported at about 5 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
In a statement, the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said police officers from Utako Division responded to a distress report about suspicious noise and activity on the hotel’s third floor.
She said the officers traced the noise to Room 301, where Net was found with marks of violence on his body, while Terdoo was found unconscious on the floor with multiple injuries.
“Further investigations revealed that the two men had a disagreement which degenerated into a physical confrontation,” Adeh said.
She added that preliminary findings indicated that Net allegedly pushed Terdoo, who fell and hit his head against a wooden object before collapsing.
The command said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Sanusi urged residents to shun violence and self-help when resolving disputes, advising them to embrace peaceful and diplomatic means of settling disagreements.
The police also urged residents to report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or contact the command on 08032003913 and 08061581938.
