The Edo State Police Command has taken into custody a medical doctor following the death of a 36-year-old woman, Mrs. Susan Omoye-Okporan, who reportedly died after undergoing a Caesarean section at a private hospital in Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area.
The tragedy occurred on August 2, 2025, when the deceased was admitted to the hospital for delivery.
The attending doctor performed a Caesarean section, but while her baby was successfully delivered alive, Mrs. Omoye-Okporan allegedly developed serious complications shortly after the operation.
Efforts to stabilize her condition reportedly failed, and she was later confirmed dead.
The sudden death threw her family into deep mourning and sparked outrage, with relatives accusing the doctor of professional misconduct and negligence.
They insisted that the fatality could have been avoided if the procedure had been properly handled.
Speaking with Punch, a family source expressed strong dissatisfaction with the doctor’s conduct, stressing that a Caesarean section is widely regarded as one of the most common and safest surgical procedures in modern medicine.
The source alleged that the doctor acted carelessly, vowing that the family would stop at nothing to ensure justice is served.
“I am certain the doctor was careless. In today’s medical practice, carrying out a C-section should not ordinarily result in death because technology has made it one of the easiest surgical operations. The family will pursue this case to the highest level,” the source said.
Following a formal complaint lodged by the bereaved family, the Edo State Police Command swung into action.
According to CSP Moses Yamu, the Command’s spokesperson, the case has since been escalated to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Benin City.
He confirmed that detectives are handling the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
“I can confirm the arrest of the doctor. The Command’s detectives are investigating thoroughly to uncover the truth surrounding the unfortunate incident,” CSP Yamu stated in a press briefing on Friday, August 22, 2025.
Findings also revealed that the homicide detectives took over the case from the Uromi Divisional Police Headquarters more than two weeks ago to allow for a more detailed and professional inquiry.
As part of the investigation, an autopsy was conducted on Mrs. Omoye-Okporan’s body.
The outcome of the post-mortem examination has been submitted and is currently awaiting review and interpretation by medical experts attached to the police.
The findings will be crucial in determining the doctor’s culpability and the subsequent steps to be taken by the authorities.
Meanwhile, the case has generated tension within Uromi and beyond, as the public continues to express concern about medical accountability and the state of healthcare delivery in private facilities across the country.
Relatives of the deceased have vowed not to relent until justice is served, stressing that the matter should serve as a deterrent against medical negligence.
Police authorities, on their part, have assured that the investigation will be thorough, transparent, and conclusive.
