The woman was discovered dead earlier this month in a hotel room on Clifford Lane, Calabar South, where she had reportedly checked in with an unidentified male guest.
In a statement on Wednesday, the command’s spokesperson, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said the photograph was released to enable anyone who recognised the deceased or had information about her family and associates to contact the police.
The command said preliminary findings showed that the woman lodged at the hotel alongside the unidentified man, whose whereabouts remained unknown.
It added that detectives were working to trace the man and unravel the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
The incident was first reported by the police on September 8 after the hotel receptionist discovered the woman unresponsive inside Room 2. The male guest was reportedly not properly documented during check-in.
According to the police, investigators who visited the scene observed apparent marks of violence on the woman’s face and neck. Her remains were subsequently taken to the General Hospital, Calabar, where she was confirmed dead and deposited in the mortuary.
The receptionist who was on duty when the incident occurred remains in police custody and is assisting with the investigation. The command, however, stressed that his detention did not amount to a declaration of guilt, saying any further action would be based on evidence and the law.
The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, directed investigators to work professionally and objectively to identify the deceased, determine how she died, locate the male guest and establish the roles, if any, of other persons connected with the incident.
The police urged anyone with useful information to contact the Police Control Room on 0706 797 7330 or 0905 827 3057, or report to the nearest police station, assuring that further developments would be made public as the investigation progresses.
