Armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have carried out an operation at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Akwa Ibom State, leading to the arrest of a senior medical official and causing widespread panic within the facility.
The operation reportedly targeted Professor Eyo Ekpe, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at the hospital, who was taken away during the exercise.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as a forceful and sudden operation, saying the operatives arrived in vehicles and moved into the hospital premises, creating confusion among staff, patients, and visitors.
The presence of armed men triggered panic across wards, with reports of patients and health workers fleeing for safety. Medical services were temporarily disrupted as some departments were forced to suspend activities.
Witness accounts also claimed that the situation escalated rapidly, leading to chaos within the hospital environment, although the exact circumstances surrounding the arrest remain unclear.
Following the incident, hospital workers and union representatives were seen urging staff to leave the premises due to security concerns, while normal clinical operations were affected.
The reason for Professor Ekpe’s arrest had not been officially confirmed at the time of reporting.
Authorities of the EFCC and the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital had not issued an official statement on the operation or its impact on hospital services.
