A 67-year-old French tourist, Mr. Pietier Gilles, has been discovered dead in his hotel room in Gboko, the administrative center of Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State.
Sources reveal that Gilles had checked into Hotel Jovina on June 6, 2025, and was later found deceased on June 8. The hotel’s manager, Mr. Emmanuel Laha, reported the incident to the “A” Division Police Station at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Sunday.
According to the police, the tourist had reportedly taken ill on June 7 but refused to be taken to the hospital despite visible signs of deterioration. The hotel management subsequently brought in a medical professional to assess his condition, only for the practitioner to confirm he had already passed away.
Police personnel, led by the Divisional Police Officer, arrived at the hotel to document the scene, after which the body was transferred to the Gboko General Hospital for preservation and a pending autopsy.
Preliminary reports suggest that Mr. Gilles had entered Nigeria from the Niger Republic on May 19, 2025, as part of a long-distance tour he was undertaking on a sports bicycle.
Authorities have confirmed that a formal investigation is underway, and relevant diplomatic channels have been activated to ensure appropriate handling of the incident.
As of the time of this report, the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, was unreachable, as repeated calls to her mobile line went unanswered
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