The Bayelsa State Police Command has officially confirmed that the young woman found dead in a hotel room in Igbogene, a suburb of Yenagoa Local Government Area, was not a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), contrary to earlier reports circulating on social media. Instead, the victim has been identified as a 22-year-old commercial sex worker.
In an official statement released in Yenagoa, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Musa Mohammed, clarified that the deceased, Miss Francisca Otu, hailed from the Omubo community in Akwa Ibom State. She was said to have resided in a neighborhood known as “Ashawo Quarters” in Okarki, a town situated near the Bayelsa State border.
According to Mohammed, the incident occurred on Saturday at a well-known guest house in Igbogene. The victim had reportedly checked into the hotel with an unidentified male companion, who is now suspected to be an internet fraudster, popularly referred to as a “Yahoo boy.”
“The receptionist at the guest house informed the police that the young woman was discovered naked and unresponsive in one of the rooms,” Mohammed stated. “Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Igbogene Division promptly led a team of officers to the scene, where the body was recovered and evacuated.”
The suspect, believed to have fled shortly after the incident, remains at large. The police have launched a forensic investigation aimed at identifying and apprehending the man responsible. Authorities are currently analyzing evidence retrieved from the crime scene and have vowed to pursue all leads.
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In the meantime, the Bayelsa State Police Command has called on members of the public to come forward with any information that could assist in the ongoing investigation. Mohammed emphasized that the cooperation of the public remains crucial in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
The case has drawn public attention not only due to the tragic loss of life but also because of the initial misinformation suggesting that the victim was a corps member, a claim now firmly refuted by law enforcement authorities.