EFCC Interrupts Surgery at UUTH, Teargas Witnesses in Akwa Ibom Hospital Raid

Officers from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) in Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday morning, interrupting an ongoing surgery to arrest a senior surgeon and unleashing teargas on staff and patients who tried to resist.

What Happened Inside the Hospital

According to Premium Times, the operatives arrived in two salon cars and a tinted bus, with some wearing masks and a few bearing EFCC insignia. Witnesses described the operation as “commando-style.” Their target was Professor Eyo Ekpe, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) at UUTH.

Miracle Moore, a medical worker at the hospital, gave a firsthand account on X shortly after the incident. “At the time, he was in surgery working on a patient and asked them to hold on, but they didn’t. Instead, they dragged him out, brutalized him, and dragged him on the ground into their bus,” Moore wrote.

Moore added that the EFCC operatives also went for the CMAC. “He wasn’t even given a chance. The security at the gate locked the entrance, and doctors came out angrily, parking cars to block them from leaving the hospital.”

Teargas Fired Inside a Federal Hospital

When the crowd of doctors and staff pushed back, things turned violent fast. According to Moore’s account on X, the operatives deployed teargas and fired shots into the hospital compound. “These inhumane people, who honestly need proper training after the police and military, opened tear gas, fired bullets, and rained chaos everywhere,” he wrote.

Moore also claimed a senior officer among the operatives was reportedly telling teammates to shoot at the angry crowd. “In a hospital??? With patients and doctors around???”

He further alleged that a stray bullet struck someone who later died, though this claim has not been independently confirmed at the time of publication. Moore added that UUTH subsequently began sending patients home. “We were asked to go home. Patients are being forced to leave. A strike is imminent.”

NMA Declares Strike, Hospital Shuts Down

The Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) responded swiftly, ordering members and patients to stay away from the hospital. Operations at UUTH ground to a halt following the incident.

The disruption to Abak Road — where UUTH is located — was also significant, with the EFCC convoy temporarily unable to leave the hospital premises due to doctors blocking the exit with their vehicles.

EFCC Silent on the Operation

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reported that EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale did not answer calls at press time. He sent a text message promising to call back. No official statement from the commission had been released as of Tuesday evening.

The incident drew widespread outrage on social media, with Nigerians questioning why an anti-corruption agency would forcibly interrupt a live surgery to make an arrest. The charge or allegation against Professor Ekpe had not been publicly disclosed by the EFCC.

Sources: Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Premium Times