Operatives in Bauchi State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have arrested two quack medical officials in Bauchi over the death of a patient, Mrs Nasiya Garba.
The incident was confirmed by Bauchi Corps Commandant, Nurudeen Abdullahi on Wednesday.
The suspects were identified as 48 years old Yakubu Gajere and 30 years old Jude Abarshi.
Abdullahi disclosed that the quacks had been running the clinic illegally for 20 years in a remote village, Mansur, with unsuspecting villagers patronizing them.
Abdullahi noted that preliminary investigation revealed that the late patient, Nasiya Garba, was an asthmatic patient who went to the clinic for medical attention, was administered an injection unprofessionally and immediately became unconscious which eventually led to her death.
While parading the suspects, the commandant stated that the two suspects were apprehended by his men following a tip-off.
According to him, the village head of Mansur had reported the case of suspected illegal operation of a clinic in the village by the two suspects who have over the years acted as medical personnel.
“The village head of Mansur through his representative reported an illegal operation of a clinic that resulted in the death of a woman, late Mrs Nasiya Garba, 25 years old resident of the village.”
“The NSCDC Divisional officer in Alkaleri LGA immediately swung into action after receiving the complaint and arrested the two suspected illegal medical practitioners.”
The Commandant pointed out that investigation is ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court as soon as possible urging the general public to treat their health matters with seriousness by attending government-owned health facilities.
When quizzed by journalists, Yakubu Gajere who was the owner and operator of the clinic admitted that a woman died in his clinic.
He also claimed that he was a health worker in the employment of the state government before his disengagement from service during the process of reducing the number of workers in the state by a previous administration in the state.
“I started operating the clinic without a license or permission for over 20 years now in the village, things have been going on well and this is the first time we lost somebody in the clinic.”
Deputy Director of Public Health in the State Ministry of Health, Abdullahi Danasabe who is the Desk Officer of private clinics said that the clinic was indeed operating illegally without a permit going by the available records in the Ministry.
“Therefore, going by the regulations, the two suspects are not allowed to operate a clinic. As soon as all investigations are completed by the relevant security agencies, the two suspects will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
He, however, advised members of the public particularly those in the rural areas to watch out for quack medical personnel who normally take advantage of the desperation for medical attention to make money from them, provide unprofessional services which most of the time worsen the health situation and may even lead to death like in the case of late Mrs Nasiya Garba.
