HUMAN HEADS,ARMED ROBBERIES: WHY THESE NIGERIAN HOTELS ARE DEADLY

Barely one month after human heads were found in an Onitsha hotel room, Anambra State Police Command has alleged increased heinous crimes in the hospitality industry, especially hotels in the state.

Consequently, it has commenced a partnership with hoteliers to awaken the consciousness of hotel workers through a security awareness workshop for them.

Addressing participants at the workshop, which held at Cana House in Awka, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Ballah Nassarawa, said for sometime the hotel sector had been a source of worry.

Nassarawa, who was represented by ACP Joseph Agugoesi, said past incidences, which included the fresh human heads discovered in a hotel in Onitsha, the use of hotels for armed robberies and the reported cases of deaths at swimming pools in some hotels called for concerns.

He said as service industry, hotels should ensure security of its premises, adding that a hotel with the best service but poor security would expose guests to crime risks and compromise reputation and goodwill.

The police boss further said: "Hoteliers are responsible for the protection of property and well being of their guests and so should not lower their guard against crime or be lulled into complacency in their hotels because security is an essential investment and not an optional expenditure.

"With the existence and increase of crime in our society and the use of hotels as hideout for these criminals, partnership with the police is greatly needed. Much as police are always here to protect us, the police cannot do it alone without your cooperation and partnership. Partnering with the police will require new commitment from everyone. All elements of society must pull together as never before to deal effectively with the unacceptable level of crime in Anambra State.

The police commissioner warmed the hoteliers against engagement of armed guards for their security without recourse to the police, saying such flagrant disregard of the law and others observed insecurity in the hotel sector was what the command intended to address, adding: "All hotel armed security will henceforth be documented by the police consultant."

In his speech, the Police Consultant, who organised the workshop, Mr. Chris Udeze, said the workshop was targeted at hotel owners, managers, receptionists and supervisors.

He said a data base had been developed for the hotels in the state and urged them to cue into the new innovation in crime fighting.