Avista Beach Resort clears air on kidnapping allegation
Our dear esteemed and valued customers and the General Public, we thank you so much for your concern, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends affected by the tragic incident that occurred last Saturday at the beach, our thoughts and prayers are with the Family during this difficult time.
Given the seriousness of the matter, it is very imperative for us to make some very important clarifications by stating the sequence of events and timelines on that fateful day, in order to correct some misconception and misrepresentation of facts, as being propagated against our establishment in the Media space.
The deceased, accompanied by 14 others, including his girlfriend, arrived at our establishment, Avista Resort, around 7:30 PM on Saturday 17th of February 2024 for an evening at our Resort. They were given access to our Resort because they came with hand tags from the Hotel next to our Resort, with whom we have an agreement to allow their guests to have access to our Resort, however they brought their own foods and beverages which was against our policy, but the manager eventually allowed them to bring in the items after so much pleading.
The deceased and his friends sat at one of our Cabanas, after some time the group decided to proceed further to the Beach Front. It is worth noting that signage on our premises clearly indicates the absence of lifeguards, and visitors are advised to exercise caution, particularly during night time hours when tidal currents may vary.
At approximately 9:00 PM on the same day while they were bound to return to their hotel which was nearby, they realized that the deceased was not amongst them, they went back to the Beach Front to search for him but couldn’t find him, eventually the group including the deceased girlfriend left the resort without seeing him.
Once again, please note that neither the deceased nor his friends were lodging or had accomodation at our Resort.
The following morning, the family returned with law enforcement officers, alleging that their brother had been kidnapped by Avista. We wish to emphasize that such accusations are unfounded and deeply regrettable.
Throughout our operational history, an incident of this nature has been unprecedented, and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of hospitality and security as a leading brand in the hospitality industry.
Currently, the matter is still under investigation by the Nigerian police, and the deceased’s body was tragically discovered at another beach Front about Six (6) kilometers from Avista Beach Resort, it will undergo a thorough autopsy.
While we await the conclusion of the authorities’ inquiry, we want to assure everyone that Avista Resort will vigorously pursue legal action against any party engaged in defamatory or malicious behavior, ensuring that justice is served.
Once again, our deepest sympathies go out to all those affected by this devastating loss.
