Akure hotel mystery: Man vanishes after child labour training programme

Tension is rising in Akure, Ondo State, following the unexplained disappearance of a participant at a week-long child labour training programme.

The missing man, identified as Olaloye Olatunde, travelled from Owo to Akure on 24 August to attend the event organised by Trace Project in partnership with Charakids Foundation. The training, which drew 56 participants, was hosted at Sunview Hotel in the Alagbaka area.

According to broadcaster and rights advocate Omo Edema, Olatunde maintained regular contact with his family between Monday and Wednesday. However, by Friday, 29 August, his phone had been switched off and all attempts to reach him failed.

Alarmed by his sudden silence, Olatunde’s wife and relatives rushed to the hotel, only to discover his clothes, shoes, and other personal belongings still inside his room. Other participants had already checked out, deepening the mystery surrounding his disappearance.

Confirming the incident, Ondo State Police Command spokesperson Alayande Olushola said the case had been formally reported and an investigation was underway to uncover the circumstances behind Olatunde’s sudden disappearance.

The unsettling case has triggered anxiety among residents and fellow participants, with many calling for swift action to trace Olatunde’s whereabouts.