The Delta State Police Command has said that Dr. Uyi Iluobe, a medical doctor practising in the state, was killed by suspected cultists and not relatives of his patient.
Reports had circulated that Dr. Iluobe was killed on Saturday, December 31, at Olive Clinic, Oghara by relatives of a patient who died from a gunshot wound.
The reports followed a press statement dated January 2, 2023, and signed by President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Uche Ojinmah.
In the statement, the NMA alleged that Iluobe was “murdered” by relatives of his patient.
The association said that violence against medical professionals should not be occurring now that the nation is grappling with brain drain in the profession.
It called on the Delta State Government and the Inspector-General of Police to ensure justice is served in the matter.
Read press statement below:
But the police denied that relatives of a patient killed Dr. Iluobe.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Bright Edafe told TheCable, “A doctor was actually killed but the story making rounds is not correct. What happened is, suspected cultists went to the hospital disguised as patients who came for treatment. According to nurses, a lady came pretending to be sick and the doctor took her to his office. While the doctor was attending to the lady, she made a call to some people asking where they were.
“Then two guys came in a Camry and asked one of the nurses where the doctor was while bringing out a gun. The nurses took them to the doctor’s office, and it was at his office that he was shot and killed.
“We suspect that the incident is connected to the cult crisis in Oghara. The reports that he was killed by the relatives of the patients are not true.
“The Delta state command has not received any complaint from anyone that they are suspecting relatives of a patient and there was no time that anyone was rushed to the hospital that day and died.”