The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered a clampdown on unregistered hospitals and quack medical personnel operating within the territory.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the Minister warned, “Henceforth, anyone found to be operating or working in an unregistered health facility should be arrested and prosecuted.”

According to the statement, Wike issued the directive following the death of a 35-year-old pregnant woman, Chekwube Chinagorom, after a caesarean section at Afolmi Hospital, a private, unregistered facility located in Durumi, Abuja.

The statement described the incident as unfortunate, stressing that despite the free registration of pregnant women into the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme, many still patronise unsafe health facilities.

“In the FCT, vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, enjoy free enrollment into the FHIS, which allows them free access, through the Primary Health Care Centres, to all services covered in the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services,” Olayinka said.

He further noted that several hospitals in the FCT, including Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals, have been designated as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care centres, offering cesarean sections free of charge.

“Our pregnant women are once again urged to take advantage of this free health insurance scheme and stop visiting quack medical personnel and unregistered health facilities,” Olayinka added.

According to the statement, Chinagorom was brought in dead to Asokoro District Hospital after undergoing a caesarean section at Afolmi Hospital. While she died, her baby was delivered alive and referred to Asokoro Hospital for care.

An investigation by the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee revealed that Afolmi Hospital was not duly registered. During inspection, only one staff member, Mr. Simon Elisha Godiya, a Junior Community Health Extension Worker, was found on duty.

“Mr. Godiya reported that the surgical operation was performed by one Murtala Jumma in conjunction with another unidentified individual. All attempts to reach Murtala Jumma via phone were unsuccessful.

“Shortly after the PHERMC team arrived at the facility, a detachment of officers from the Nigeria Police, Durumi Divisional Headquarters, also arrived. The case was immediately handed over to the Police for further investigation.

“The officer in charge requested that the PHERMC team accompany them to the station to formally record the incident, and the team complied accordingly.

“The Nigeria Police is currently assisting in identifying the individuals responsible for the surgery, verifying their qualifications, and investigating the circumstances that led to the death of the late Chekwube Chinagorom at Afolmi Hospital,” the statement added.

There were some moments of apprehension when gunmen invaded the venue of a rally organised by loyalists of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), in Bayelsa state.

Some minutes after the rally started at Igbogene in Yenagoa on Saturday, gunshots suddenly echoed in the air.

Attendees began to scamper for safety following the sounds of gunshots said to have been fired from a nearby bush close to the venue of the rally.

After the sounds subsided, the attendees returned to the venue as the organisers insisted on continuing the rally.

The organisers went ahead with the rally after the shooting incident.

PDP chieftains in Bayelsa and other states in the south-south zone, who are loyal to the FCT minister, attended the rally.

The rally is being organised by New Associates, a pro-Wike political group. The convener is George Turnah, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The rally is “in solidarity and appreciation of President Bola Tinubu and Nyesom Wike for facilitation and appointment of notable sons and daughters of Bayelsa into positions of authority”.

The build-up to the rally elicited varied reactions as Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa, had insisted that the event was likely to trigger violence in the state.

However, Wike’s supporters dismissed the governor’s comment and vowed to go ahead with the rally — initially scheduled for April 11 at Tombia roundabout open field in Yenagoa.

On April 3, the high court in Yenagoa restrained Wike’s supporters from holding the rally in the state.

The order was made following an ex parte application filed by Biriyai Dambo, Bayelsa attorney-general.

To counter the move of Wike’s supporters, supporters of Diri had organised a separate rally at the same location and on the same day.

Due to the development, Wike’s supporters postponed their planned rally to April 26 to avoid potential clashes.