- Safiu Kehinde
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has detained a health practitioner over the death of a woman during alleged abortion in Ikot Obio Odung village, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday in Uyo by the Command’s Public Relation Officer, DSP Timfon John.
According to Timfom, the health practitioner was arrested following a report by the victim’s mother, who stated that her daughter had gone to work at Full Life Medical Centre in Ikot Obio Odong village, Ibesikpo Asutan.
“A man was arrested on suspicion of conducting an illegal abortion that resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman at approximately 9:30 p.m on Tuesday 19th of August,” the Police spokesperson said.
The victim’s neighbour also disclosed how the health practitioner whose identity was not disclosed had allegedly tried to secretly dump her body in the deceased’s room but fled the scene after being confronted.
Upon detectives’ arrival at the scene, a premature fetus exiting the victim’s private part was according to Timfom discovered.
She said that a subsequent investigation led to the arrest of the suspect, a resident of Afaha Offiong village in Nsit Ibom.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim died from a suspected illegal abortion performed by the accused.” She said.
Timfon said that further inquiries exposed that the suspect, “who owns and operates the Full Life Medical Centre, is not a licensed medical doctor or a nurse, but rather a community health practitioner.
“It is believed that he used the facility to perform illegal medical services and abortions. The health center had since been found deserted,” the Police spokesperson said.
According to her, the body of the deceased had been deposited at a morgue for preservation and an autopsy.
Timfon said investigation was ongoing and assured that further details would be made available in due course.