Former Nigeria international, Osaze Odemwingie has lost his hotel manager after he was shot by armed robbers on Sunday at the hotel which is situated off Upper Sakponba road in Benin-city.

The Nation reports that the robbers gained access to the hotel at about 9 pm and shot Okunkpola.

However, a statement from Edo Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said Okunkpolo was hit by a bullet in a shoot-out between two rival cult groups.

Nwabuzor claimed that members of ‘Eiye’ and ‘Aye’ engaged in a shoot-out in the area on Sunday night.

According to him, “The incident is true. It is also true that a murder happened at Odemwingie’s hotel on the 17th of February, 2019. The incident was between two secret cults- The Aye and Eiye cult groups.

“It was not an armed robbery incident. The corpse has been deposited at the Benin Central hospital mortuary.

“Our detectives are still investigating the incident,” he added.

No statement has been made by the former West Brom star as at the time of filing this report.