French tourist found dead in Benue hotel

A French national has been found dead in a hotel room in Gboko LGA of Benue state.

Identified as Pietier Gilles, 67, the deceased was reportedly a tourist.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reported that Gilles was found dead on Saturday at Hotel Jovina, Gboko, where he had lodged on Friday.

Udeme Edet, Benue police spokesperson, confirmed the incident to TheCable on Monday.

Edet said Emmanuel Laha, the hotel manager, reported the incident to the local police on Sunday.

According to Laha’s report, the tourist took ill on June 7 but declined to be taken to a hospital.

Concerned about his deteriorating condition, the hotel management brought in a medical practitioner to examine him, but he was already dead.

“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer led a patrol team to the hotel where photographs of the scene were taken. The body was evacuated to the General Hospital in Gboko for preservation and autopsy,” Zagazola quoted some police sources as saying.

Gilles reportedly arrived in Nigeria from Niger Republic on May 19 on a sports bicycle — as part of what is believed to be a long-distance tour.

Edet told TheCable that investigations are ongoing and that updates will be communicated once the autopsy is concluded.