A massive crisis has unfolded at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) in Akwa Ibom State following a controversial “commando-style” raid by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has fiercely condemned the anti-graft agency, accusing masked operatives of violently assaulting a senior medical expert and disrupting critical healthcare operations.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, centered around Prof. Eyo Ekpe, a prominent Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at UUTH. The EFCC allegedly stormed the facility to forcefully apprehend Ekpe over a dispute regarding the authentication of a medical report submitted by a fraud suspect currently in the commission’s custody.
Key Details of the Controversy
- The Assault Allegations: According to the Akwa Ibom State NMA Chairman, Prof. Aniekan Peter, masked EFCC agents physically brutalized Prof. Ekpe, beating him to the point of bleeding, before handcuffing him. Other doctors and administrative staff who tried to intervene were also reportedly assaulted, and some were dragged away into waiting vehicles.
- Teargas and Chaos in a Sterile Zone: Witnesses report that operatives fired gunshots and deployed teargas canisters inside the hospital premises, causing panic among patients, visitors, and pregnant women. The Akwa Ibom NMA Chairman himself was reportedly shoved and exposed to teargas when trying to seek clarification from the team leader.
- Medical Services Shutdown: In immediate retaliation, doctors in Akwa Ibom State shut down operations, embarking on an indefinite strike to protest the violation of the hospital’s sanctity. The national body of the NMA has backed the strike, warning that medical professionals will no longer risk their lives to save patients while being brutalized by state security personnel.
- The EFCC’s Response and Apology: Initially, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, defended the presence of the officers, stating they only went to verify a suspicious medical report related to a microfinance bank fraud case. However, as nationwide outcry mounted on Friday, May 15, 2026, the EFCC officially backtracked, admitting a breach of operational protocol and issuing a formal apology to the medical community.
Demands From the Medical Community
The NMA has issued a stiff ultimatum to the Federal Government and the EFCC leadership, threatening a multi-billion Naira legal battle if the following conditions are not met:
- A formal, unreserved public apology to Prof. Eyo Ekpe, the UUTH management, and the NMA leadership.
- The immediate identification, suspension, and internal prosecution of all the rogue operatives involved in the violent raid.
- A ₦1 Billion lawsuit for physical, emotional, and institutional damages caused during the illegal operation.
