May 12, (THEWILL) — Patients at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State, were left stranded on Tuesday, after an operation by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sparked tension within the hospital premises and triggered an indefinite withdrawal of medical services by doctors.
The incident, which eyewitnesses and medical officials claimed involved sporadic gunfire, teargas deployment and the arrest of senior medical personnel, caused panic among workers, patients and visitors at the tertiary health facility.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State Branch, has since declared an immediate and indefinite strike action in protest against what it described as the “barbaric” treatment allegedly meted out to medical personnel during the operation.
Eyewitnesses described dramatic scenes as armed EFCC operatives stormed the hospital allegedly in a bid to question Professor Eyo Ekpe, the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (DC-MAC) of UUTH and a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon.
An eyewitness, Ukeme Ebu, recounted the experience in an emotional narration shared online, saying hospital workers and patients were caught in what appeared like a “war zone”.
“The only crime I committed today was going to work. As I reached my place of work (UUTH), behold I met a war zone with gunshots and teargas. Stones up and down. The whole of Abak Road was blocked. I was limping, covering my head and struggling through the teargas”, the witness stated.
The eyewitness alleged that EFCC operatives arrived without an arrest warrant and insisted on arresting Prof. Ekpe despite explanations reportedly provided by the hospital management.
“I learnt the DC-MAC, Prof. Eyo Ekpe, had explained everything to them but they insisted on arresting a whole Professor with no warrant. They dragged and embarrassed my teacher for what he knows nothing about”, the witness alleged.
The account further claimed that teargas was discharged within the hospital environment despite the presence of vulnerable patients, including those with respiratory complications, while some persons attempting to record the incident allegedly had their phones confiscated.
The development reportedly disrupted activities within the hospital, leaving many patients unattended as medical workers protested the operation.
However, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command denied involvement in the operation, insisting that the raid was carried out solely by EFCC operatives.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the Command described reports linking policemen to the alleged assault as “false, misleading and distorted”.
According to the statement, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UUTH had contacted the Commissioner of Police after armed men were sighted within the hospital premises and the hospital gates were subsequently shut as a precautionary measure.
The police explained that officers were only deployed to assess the situation and prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.
“On arrival, it was professionally confirmed that the operatives involved were personnel of the EFCC carrying out a lawful operation”, the statement read.
The Command further stated that the EFCC operatives were allegedly trapped within the premises and pelted with stones, forcing them to break open the gate in order to leave the hospital.
“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command states unequivocally that at no time did police personnel participate in the operation, assault any hospital staff, deploy teargas, or engage in any form of brutality as falsely portrayed in the viral reports”, the statement added.
The EFCC, in its own reaction, defended the operation, insisting that its visit to the hospital was part of an ongoing investigation involving an alleged bank fraud suspect.
According to the anti-graft agency, the suspect, who is facing prosecution before Justice M.A. Onyetunu of the Federal High Court, Uyo, had presented a medical report purportedly issued by UUTH, which the Commission needed to authenticate.
The EFCC stated that it had written two separate letters to the hospital management on March 11 and April 20, 2026, seeking clarification on the medical report but allegedly received no response.
The Commission said an investigating officer subsequently visited the hospital to follow up on the request, also without success.
“As a last resort, operatives of the Commission visited the Chief Medical Director of the hospital on Tuesday to make further enquiries, only to be locked in with a false alarm and subjected to unprovoked attack by misguided staff of the facility who pelted them with stones and other dangerous objects”, the statement noted.
The agency further alleged that the CMD directed that the hospital gates be shut, preventing its operatives from leaving the premises despite intervention by the police.
“Police authorities in Akwa Ibom State advised the CMD to open the hospital gates to enable the operatives exit the premises peacefully but the entreaties were turned down”, the EFCC stated.
The Commission, however, denied causing any disruption to hospital activities, insisting that its operatives exercised restraint throughout the encounter.
“In spite of the hostility and provocation, there was no breakdown of law and order as the operatives exercised restraint and professionally made their ways out of the hospital premises without disrupting its activities,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State Branch, has condemned the incident in strong terms, accusing EFCC operatives of assaulting Prof. Ekpe and other hospital personnel.
Following an emergency virtual congress held on Tuesday, the association alleged that the senior surgeon was beaten, handcuffed and forcefully taken into custody alongside other doctors and hospital staff who reportedly attempted to intervene.
The NMA also claimed that gunshots were fired within the hospital premises and that its State Chairman, Professor Aniekan Imo Peter, was shoved and exposed to teargas while attempting to seek clarification from the operatives.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the association announced an immediate total and indefinite strike action across Akwa Ibom State.
The doctors demanded the unconditional release of Prof. Ekpe and all detained staff members, a public apology from the EFCC, and the identification and prosecution of all operatives allegedly involved in the raid.
The association further disclosed plans to institute legal action against the anti-graft agency, seeking N1 billion in damages for what it described as physical, emotional, professional and institutional harm caused by the incident.
“Hospitals are sacred environments meant for the preservation of life and should never be subjected to violent invasions by security agencies”, the communiqué read.
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