A hotel stay turned into a nightmare for a group of guests in Lagos after they were allegedly brutalized and extorted by thugs reportedly mobilized by the manager of Dmatel Hotel in Ikota, Lekki Phase Two. The manager is accused of orchestrating a violent attack over a payment dispute, forcing the guests to part with an additional N90,000 after they had already settled their initial bills.
One of the victims, Prince Samuel Edem, narrated the harrowing ordeal to SaharaReporters, detailing how he and his friends fell into the trap of the hotel’s management.
Edem, who was visiting Lagos for over a month and staying in different hotels, decided to check into Dmatel Hotel with his friends on March 19. They paid N45,000 per night for a four-day stay. However, when their sponsor—who was staying elsewhere—encountered financial difficulties, he asked them to negotiate with the management for an extension to settle the bill.
“He told us he had financial challenges and that his girlfriend was sick, so he asked us to speak with the management. Since he was a regular guest, we believed they would allow us to stay a little longer,” Edem recounted.
Initially, the hotel management agreed to a temporary reprieve. However, by Saturday, the manager insisted they could not remain without additional payment. Edem and his friends, understanding the situation, agreed to check out by Sunday morning.
“When he knocked on our door on Sunday, we agreed to check out and asked what would happen to the unpaid bill for the two nights. He said he would hold onto our belongings until we returned with the money,” Edem explained. To assure the manager, they left behind a Rolex watch valued at N3 million as collateral.
On Monday, the manager called to remind them of the N90,000 balance. By Wednesday, they secured the funds and returned to settle the debt.
“When we arrived, we confirmed the balance with the cashier and made the transfer. But just as we were about to retrieve our belongings, the manager suddenly demanded an additional N225,000, claiming that our possessions had remained in the room,” Edem said.
Violence Unleashed
When Edem protested, insisting they had vacated the room as instructed, the situation spiraled out of control.
“The manager called in a thug who blocked our exit. Moments later, more thugs stormed in. They began punching us and calling us thieves,” he recounted.
According to Edem, five men attacked him alone, leaving him bleeding profusely from his nose. The brutal assault came with threats to their lives, forcing one of his friends to rush to Zenith Bank and withdraw another N90,000 in cash to secure their freedom.
“They collected another N90,000 from us in cash—after we had already paid N90,000 via transfer—before they let us go,” he said.
Edem confirmed that four of them were assaulted, with two, including himself, sustaining serious injuries.
Silence from the Hotel Management
When SaharaReporters reached out to the hotel manager on Wednesday morning, he answered the call but refused to comment. Subsequent calls and messages seeking his response to the allegations were ignored.
The shocking incident raises serious concerns about guest safety and unethical practices in the hospitality industry. Authorities are yet to take action, but victims are calling for justice.
PIONEER NEWS 