Posted by By Boniface Nzama, Calabar on
Three fake doctors who have been operating illegal hospitals in Bekwarra Local Government area of Cross River State are now in custody at the State Police Headquarters following their arrest.
Three fake doctors who have been operating illegal hospitals in Bekwarra Local Government area of Cross River State are now in custody at the State Police Headquarters following their arrest.
Cross River State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Danlami Yar'Adua, said that the fake doctors were arrested when men of the command swooped on their illegal hospitals. According to him, the fake doctors whose names were given as 'Dr. Barnabas", 'Dr. Martins", and 'Dr. Samuel", had been carrying out deadly surgical operations and killing unsuspecting members of the public.
The police disclosed that during interrogation, ‘Dr. Barnabas' admitted to have carried out several surgical treatments, without acquiring basic training to qualify him for the job of a surgeon.
‘Dr. Barnabas' said he decided to set up the clinic, after he had gained experience having worked with medical doctors for years.
The suspect, who is a native of Vandekya local government area in Benue State, said: 'I was operating clinic by experience, though not registered.
'Actually, I am not a surgeon but I read medical laboratory, and after my graduation, I worked with a medical doctor for years. I was carrying out surgical treatment, based on the experiences I acquired when I was with the doctor."
‘Dr. Barnabas' said his intention was not to remain as permanent doctor of the clinic, since he had allegedly started the process of recruiting a professional doctor.
'The former doctor that I worked with, is dead, so I decided to set up my own clinic. I did not set up the clinic to run it myself forever. In fact, I have already started making arrangements to employ a doctor who will work there," he said.
However, the police commissioner said the command was compelled to swoop on the clinics, as investigations revealed that the quack doctors were operating illegal and unlicensed clinics and maternity homes.
Moreover, he said the operators of the clinics were not qualified medical doctors 'yet they were carrying out complex operations, involving the dissecting and opening of human bodies and tampering with delicate internal organs."
According to the police boss, the suspects will be charged to court, after preliminary investigation by the police has been completed.
Parading the suspects at the state headquarters of the force, Danlami said the police will not stand by and watch criminals kill innocent citizens.
It would be recalled that earlier this year, the state governor ordered the closure of Amanda Javis Clinic, operated by one Dr. Efiok Efiok and Belma Clinic, because the activities of the clinics were endangering the lives of innocent citizens of the state. Governor Donald Duke, who announced the closure of Amanda and Belma clinics, said they were shut down for alleged unprofessional activities which claimed several lives, including that of a commissioner with the State Local Government Commission.