Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the controversial raid carried out by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Akwa Ibom State, describing the operation as disturbing and unacceptable.
The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage across the country, reportedly involved EFCC operatives storming the hospital premises in an attempt to arrest a senior medical official linked to an ongoing investigation. Eyewitness accounts alleged that security personnel fired shots into the air and used teargas within the hospital environment, creating panic among doctors, patients, students, and other health workers.
Reacting to the development, Obi criticized the manner in which the operation was conducted, especially the reported deployment of force inside a healthcare facility. He argued that hospitals are sacred institutions meant for saving lives and should never become battle grounds for aggressive security operations. According to him, the use of teargas and force in an environment housing sick patients and medical personnel reflects a dangerous disregard for human dignity and professional ethics...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The raid has already triggered serious consequences within the health sector in Akwa Ibom State. Medical doctors and healthcare workers at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital embarked on an indefinite strike following the incident, shutting down services in protest against what they described as intimidation and brutality against medical professionals.
Reports indicated that the EFCC operatives allegedly arrested Professor Effiong Ekpe, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and senior management official at the hospital, alongside several staff members. Witnesses claimed the professor was humiliated during the operation and dragged out of the facility despite concerns raised by colleagues and hospital workers.
Medical associations including the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and the Association of Resident Doctors strongly condemned the operation, accusing the EFCC of excessive force and reckless conduct. The groups demanded disciplinary action against officers involved in the raid, compensation for affected staff, and a public apology from the anti-graft agency.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Ememabasi Bassey, also faulted the operation, insisting that the matter could have been handled through proper administrative channels without disrupting healthcare services. He revealed that the hospital management had maintained cooperation with security agencies in previous investigations and questioned why force was used in a situation he described as avoidable.
Meanwhile, the EFCC defended its actions, insisting that its operatives were carrying out a lawful assignment linked to a court matter involving the authentication of a medical report allegedly connected to a fraud case. The agency maintained that it had previously written letters to the hospital requesting cooperation before proceeding with the operation.
The controversy has continued to generate heated debate nationwide, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the increasing use of force by law enforcement agencies in sensitive public institutions such as hospitals and schools.
