A 33-year-old man, Otu Bassey, has been arrested by the Cross River State Police Command for allegedly posing as a doctor and performing an unauthorised hernia surgery on a 60-year-old man in Ekori, Yakurr Local Government Area.
The incident reportedly occurred at a private clinic in Ekori on September 8, 2026, after the patient, identified only as Ukpan, developed complications following the procedure.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the arrest in a statement made available to journalists in Calabar on Sunday.
According to the statement, the patient underwent the procedure and was discharged on the same day.
However, three days later, on September 11, at about 4pm, his condition reportedly deteriorated and he was taken to Ugep General Hospital by Bassey.
The police said tension escalated at about 9pm when members of the patient’s family, who became suspicious of Bassey’s professional qualifications, allegedly attempted to attack him at the hospital.
Police officers on duty reportedly intervened, prevented the attack and moved the suspect to protective custody at the Ugep Police Division.
Following his arrest, the Command commenced investigations into his professional status, qualifications and the circumstances surrounding the procedure.
During preliminary questioning, Bassey reportedly claimed that he was a theatre assistant who carried out the procedure in the absence of his principal.
The police said they were verifying the claim and determining whether he was professionally qualified to perform the surgery.
Meanwhile, medical personnel are investigating the cause of the patient’s complications to establish whether they were linked to the alleged procedure.
The Command stressed that no conclusion had been reached on the suspect’s criminal liability pending the completion of the investigation and receipt of medical reports.
The police also urged members of the public to refrain from taking the law into their hands, assuring that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
