The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has apprehended a suspected fake doctor, Sunday Okon Akpan, after the tragic death of a 35-year-old woman, Blessing Sunday Etim, who reportedly lost her life during an unlawful abortion.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued by the police public relations officer, DSP Timfon John, on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
She disclosed that the suspect, who claimed to be a medical practitioner, was exposed after allegedly attempting to secretly dispose of the victim’s body in her residence following the botched procedure.
Police investigations revealed that the victim, a resident of Ikot Obio Odong village in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, had gone to work at Full Life Medical Centre, a facility operated by the suspect, on the day of the incident.
Her family raised an alarm after she failed to return home.
A co-tenant later testified that the supposed doctor, identified as Akpan, tried to sneak into the deceased’s room with her lifeless body to cover up the crime. When confronted, he abandoned the corpse and fled the scene, raising further suspicion about his activities.
DSP John reports that detectives who arrived at the crime scene made a grim discovery.
They observed that a premature fetus was protruding from the deceased’s body, strongly suggesting that she had died from complications of an unsafe abortion.
This prompted an immediate manhunt for the suspect, who was eventually arrested. Police later confirmed that he is not a licensed medical doctor or nurse but a community health practitioner with limited medical training.
Preliminary findings indicated that Akpan had been operating the Full Life Medical Centre illegally, presenting himself as a qualified doctor to unsuspecting patients.
Investigations further suggest that the facility had been used to carry out illegal abortions and other unauthorized medical services, endangering the lives of women in the community.
When the police stormed the premises, the health centre had been completely deserted.
DSP John emphasised that the suspect had no professional qualifications to conduct medical procedures of such magnitude, let alone abortions, which under Nigerian law remain a highly restricted medical practice.
The body of Blessing Etim has since been deposited at a morgue for preservation and a complete autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Police have pledged to thoroughly investigate and bring the suspect to justice.
“The investigation is still ongoing, and more details will be communicated to members of the public as soon as possible,” DSP John said, reassuring residents that the Command is committed to protecting citizens from quackery and illegal medical practices.
Cases of unqualified individuals posing as medical doctors have raised growing concerns across Nigeria.
Health experts warn that unsafe abortions and quack medical practices remain a leading cause of maternal deaths in many rural and semi-urban areas where access to qualified health professionals is limited.
Therefore, the Akwa Ibom Police Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and verify the credentials of health practitioners before seeking medical services. It also called on communities to promptly report suspicious facilities offering unauthorised treatments.