By Emmanuel Kwada
A chilling confession has rocked the quiet community of Owhelogbo in Isoko North Local Government Area, as Iboirode, the manager of Century Home Hotel, admitted to the gruesome murder of 22-year-old Point-of-Sale (POS) operator Onoriode Bethel.
The motive behind Bethel’s murder was rooted in a confrontation over a N10,000 transaction
The young woman, declared missing since December 13, 2024, was lured to the hotel under false pretenses, killed, and buried in a shallow grave on the premises. Her death, according to the suspect, was an act of vengeance for allegedly damaging his reputation over a financial dispute.
The Delta State Police Command, led by spokesperson SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the suspect’s confession in a statement released on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The case, which has sparked outrage across the state, began when Bethel’s POS machine was recovered from the hotel manager during an unrelated investigation into another murder at the same establishment. Edafe revealed the horrifying details in a video shared on his X handle (@Brightgoldenboy), describing how Iboirode exploited Bethel’s trust, extorted her family, and attempted to cover up his crime.
According to police investigations, the motive behind Bethel’s murder was rooted in a confrontation over a N10,000 transaction. Bethel, a friend of the suspect, had accused Iboirode of using a fake bank alert to defraud her.
Although she successfully recovered the money, Iboirode allegedly harbored resentment, believing the accusation had “tarnished his image.” Determined to exact revenge, he devised a sinister plan.
On the evening of December 13, 2024, Iboirode lured Bethel to the hotel under the guise of resolving their dispute. The suspect’s wife, who has also been detained, provided chilling testimony to the police.
Bethel was killed in a secluded room within the hotel
“My husband called her into the hotel; she is a friend of his. That day, he called her on the phone and took her into a room. It was around 7 p.m. one evening. I don’t know how he killed her because I was in our room. It was when he came out around midnight that he told me he had killed her,” she confessed. Her statement corroborated the police’s findings that Bethel was killed in a secluded room within the hotel.
In a twisted attempt to profit from his crime, Iboirode used Bethel’s mobile phone to contact her father, pretending she had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom. He coerced Bethel into revealing the password to her POS device before her death, which he then used to withdraw the ransom money. “He even used her POS to collect the money and extracted the password from the girl before killing her,” Edafe stated, underscoring the calculated nature of the crime.
He even used her POS to collect the money and extracted the password from the girl before killing her
To conceal the murder, Iboirode buried Bethel’s body in a shallow grave on the hotel premises. Her disappearance went unnoticed for months until March 2025, when police arrested Iboirode and other hotel staff in connection with the unrelated murder of a guest, Pastor Sunday Ogofotha. During the investigation, Bethel’s POS machine was discovered in Iboirode’s possession, unraveling the tragic truth.
The recovery of Bethel’s decomposed remains has sent shockwaves through Owhelogbo, a community already reeling from the earlier murder at Century Home Hotel. Residents expressed grief and anger, with some questioning the safety of local establishments. “This is unthinkable. How can someone be so heartless over a small dispute? She was just a young girl trying to make a living,” said a local trader who knew Bethel.
The hotel, once a familiar lodging spot, has become a symbol of horror. In March 2025, irate youths, dissatisfied with initial police reports, set the hotel ablaze, and the Isoko North Local Government chairman, Elder Godwin Ogorugba, sealed the property. The chairman had previously warned hotel owners in the area to maintain strict oversight to prevent criminal activities, a directive Century Home Hotel reportedly ignored.
This is a tragic and deeply disturbing case. We are committed to uncovering the full truth and bringing all involved to justice
SP Bright Edafe assured the public that the Delta State Police Command is committed to ensuring justice for Bethel and her family. “This is a tragic and deeply disturbing case. We are committed to uncovering the full truth and bringing all involved to justice,” he said. Investigations are ongoing, with Iboirode and his wife in custody.
The police are also probing potential links to other crimes at the hotel, including the murder of Pastor Ogofotha, who was allegedly killed by assailants granted access to his room by Iboirode for a promised N5 million.
The Owhelogbo hotel murder case has reignited concerns about safety in Delta State’s hospitality sector. Edafe urged the public to remain vigilant and inform loved ones of their whereabouts, citing the critical role Bethel’s family played in tracing her to the hotel. “If the victim had not told anyone where she was going, this case might have remained unsolved,” he noted.
The Delta State Police Command has pledged to leave no stone unturned
As the community mourns Onoriode Bethel, her tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in seemingly familiar places. The Delta State Police Command has pledged to leave no stone unturned, but for Bethel’s family, the pain of her loss and the cruelty of her final moments will linger far beyond the courtroom.
