The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has taken a health practitioner into custody over an alleged illegal abortion that reportedly resulted in the death of a woman in Ikot Obio Odung village, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, confirmed the incident in a press release issued to journalists in Uyo on Thursday.
According to the statement, the suspect’s arrest followed a report filed by the deceased’s mother, who said her daughter had gone to work at Full Life Medical Centre, located in the same village, prior to her death.
DSP John revealed that the woman, aged 35, died around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19, after allegedly undergoing an unlawful abortion.
A neighbor of the deceased reported that the suspect, believed to be her employer, attempted to place her body in her room to conceal the incident but fled the scene after being confronted by locals.
Upon arrival at the scene, police detectives discovered a premature fetus partially expelled from the victim’s body, raising suspicions of a botched abortion.
Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect, a resident of Afaha Offiong village in Nsit Ibom. Preliminary findings indicated that the deceased’s death resulted from a suspected unauthorized abortion procedure carried out by the accused.
John also disclosed that the suspect, who runs the Full Life Medical Centre, is neither a certified medical doctor nor a registered nurse but a community health worker. Authorities suspect the facility was used to carry out illegal medical procedures, including abortions. The center has since been found abandoned.
The remains of the deceased have been deposited at a mortuary, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
The police spokesperson confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing and assured that more information will be provided as the case develops.