By our reporter 13.9.2026
The police in Cross River State arrived on time to save a theatre assistant from mob action after a 60-year-old man suffered complications from the surgery conducted on him.
According to the police the theatre assistant Bassey Otu Bassey performed the surgery at a private clinic in Ekori, Yakurr Local Government Area on September 8, but three days later the old man relapsed and was rushed to the Ugep General Hospital.
His enraged family members and friends seized Otu Bassey at the Ugep General Hospital and attempted to lynch him for almost causing the death of the patient identified only as Ukpan.
They were furthered anger to find out that Otu Bassey was not a qualified surgeon, however, he was lucky to have the police arrive, he was taken away put in protective custody at the Ugep police station.
Bassey admitted to the police he is a theatre assistant; he carried out the procedure “in the absence of his principal.”
“No conclusion has been reached regarding criminal liability or the cause of the patient’s condition, pending the outcome of the investigation and relevant medical findings,” Cross State police spokesperson ASP Eitokpah Sunday, said in a statement.
According to reports Cross River State have seen a rise in incident of medical quackery. The Ministry of Health has shut down four unregistered facilities within the last 12 weeks.
One facility was sealed in Calabar following the death of a patient as a result of surgery, while three private health facilities were sealed in Ikom, Nkoyo and Ekori over alleged quackery, non-registration, outdated facilities and lack of minimal standards to function.
Cross River quack doctor under arrest.