Police arrest ‘fake doctor’ over unauthorised hernia surgery in C’River

Operatives of the Cross River State Police Command have arrested a 33-year-old man, Otu Bassey, for allegedly posing as a doctor and performing an unauthorised hernia surgery on a 60-year-old man in Ekori, Yakurr Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Eitokpah, who confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday in Calabar, the state capital, said the incident occurred at a private clinic in Ekori after the patient, identified simply as Ukpan, reportedly developed complications following the procedure.

Eitokpah said the alleged surgery was carried out on September 8, 2026, and the patient was discharged the same day, adding that three days later, on September 11, 2026, at about 4 pm, the patient’s condition worsened and he was taken to Ugep General Hospital by the suspect.

The statement read, “The Cross River State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding an alleged unauthorised hernia surgery performed on Ukpan, surname withheld, ‘m’, 60 years, at a private clinic in Ekori, Yakurr Local Government Area, after the patient reportedly developed complications following the procedure.

“Preliminary information indicates that the patient underwent the procedure on September 8, 2026 and was discharged the same day. On September 11, 2026, at about 4 pm, he was reportedly taken to Ugep General Hospital by Bassey Otu Bassey, ‘M’, 33 years, following the reported complications,” the statement said.

The statement further said chaos started at about 9 pm when the patient’s family members, suspicious of the suspect’s qualifications, attempted to attack him at the hospital.

The command’s PPRO said the police officers on duty swiftly intervened, prevented the mob action and moved the suspect to protective custody at the Ugep Police Division, adding that the command proceeded to verify the suspect’s professional status and qualifications.

“During preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly stated that he is a theatre assistant who undertook the procedure in the absence of his principal. The police are currently verifying his professional status and qualifications, as well as the circumstances under which the procedure was conducted,” the statement said.

Eitokpah added that medical personnel are also investigating the cause of the patient’s complications to determine if they are linked to the alleged surgery.

The police noted that no conclusion has been reached on criminal liability pending the outcome of investigations and medical reports.

The Command, however, cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their hands, assuring that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.