Three people have been taken into custody by the Edo State Police Command following the death of a lecturer with Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Dr Matthew Uwuigbe.
The senior academic reportedly died inside a hotel room in the Mosco area of Ekpoma on Sunday, October 5, 2026.
The incident occurred in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to the police account, Uwuigbe had lodged at the hotel with a 21-year-old woman, Angela Defa Jacob, who was described as a commercial sex worker.
The lecturer was reportedly in the room with Jacob before asking her to go out and purchase water. Police said the woman returned later and found Uwuigbe lying lifeless on the bed.
The matter was reported to the police at about 8pm, after which officers commenced investigations.
Edo State Police Command spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident and disclosed that three people had been arrested.
She identified the suspects as the hotel owner, the hotel manager and Jacob.
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According to Ikoedem, the police received a report that the AAU lecturer had lodged at the hotel and allegedly engaged the services of the young woman.
She said Uwuigbe subsequently sent Jacob to buy water, but the woman found him dead upon her return.
The police spokesperson said investigations were still ongoing and that detectives were working to unravel the circumstances surrounding the lecturer’s death.
Ikoedem also confirmed that Uwuigbe’s remains had been deposited at the Oriaifo Memorial Hospital mortuary.
The development was also acknowledged by Ambrose Alli University.
The university’s PRO, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, confirmed that Uwuigbe was a member of staff but stressed that the incident did not take place on university premises.
“We are not denying that he is our staff, but whatever he did and what happened, it is his private life,” he said.
Aladenika added that Jacob was not an AAU student.
The police have not released further details about the cause of death. The investigation is expected to establish how Uwuigbe died and whether foul play was involved.
