By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke

18- SEPT -2025

The Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA), Imo State Chapter, has strongly condemned what it described as reckless, malicious, and defamatory allegations made by one Mr. Nonso Nkwa against the hospitality industry in the state. The Association expressed outrage over a viral video and accompanying social media utterances in which Mr. Nkwa accused hotels in Imo State of engaging in human organ harvesting and claimed that “special cooks” were employed in hotels to prepare and sell human parts as food to individuals with a preference for human flesh. In the disturbing video, he also circulated images purporting to show cooked human body parts as supposed evidence of his assertions.

The leadership of the Association maintained that these allegations are not only false and unfounded but also gravely damaging to the reputation of hotels across Imo State. According to the NHA, such fabrications are capable of inciting fear, sowing distrust among the public, and undermining confidence in an industry that plays a vital role in hospitality, tourism, and economic growth. The Association stressed that hotels are institutions of comfort, recreation, and service to society, and at no time have they been or will they ever be associated with criminal or inhumane practices of this nature.

Following the circulation of the viral claims, the NHA was invited to the Imo State Police Headquarters through the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID). During the meeting, Mr. Nonso Nkwa was confronted with the allegations and directed by the Police to provide verifiable evidence, including witnesses, victims, or relatives of victims, to substantiate his claims. He was given a deadline expiring the following week to either present concrete proof or face the appropriate legal consequences.

In furtherance of this, the Association submitted a formal petition to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into the conduct of Mr. Nkwa. The petition stressed that his actions fall under various legal offenses, including actionable defamation as defined by the Nigerian Criminal Code Act (Sections 373–381), dissemination of false information under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015, as well as public incitement and breach of peace, which are capable of destabilizing social harmony. The Association argued that his deliberate spread of falsehood not only attacks the integrity of the hotel industry but also threatens public order and confidence in law enforcement and other institutions within the state.

The NHA further appealed to the Police Command to issue an official statement to reassure the public of the credibility and safety of hotels operating in Imo State. It emphasized that hotels in the state are regulated by relevant government agencies and operate under strict professional and ethical standards that prioritize the safety, comfort, and well-being of guests. The Association reassured the general public that no form of criminality is tolerated within the hospitality sector and urged residents and visitors to continue patronizing hotels with confidence, dismissing the spurious allegations as deliberate attempts to malign the industry and incite unnecessary panic.

Reiterating its stance, the Nigeria Hotel Association, Imo State Chapter, vowed to continue working closely with law enforcement agencies to safeguard the image of the hospitality industry, ensure truth and justice prevail, and hold individuals accountable for spreading false and damaging information. The leadership made it clear that it would pursue all necessary legal and institutional channels to protect the reputation of hotels and prevent further attempts to tarnish the good image of the sector.

The Association concluded by calling on the public to resist the temptation of circulating unverified claims on social media, noting that such reckless dissemination of falsehood only undermines peace, trust, and social order.

It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, ethical service, and collaboration with government authorities in ensuring that Imo State’s hospitality industry remains a safe, reliable, and respected cornerstone of society.