Tension erupted at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) following the arrest of three nurses in connection with the death of a patient, triggering a massive protest by healthcare workers.

 

According to eyewitnesses, the incident began after a critically ill patient was brought in by a good Samaritan and received initial treatment. Unfortunately, the patient died shortly after admission. Trouble started when the deceased’s relatives discovered his SIM card was missing and demanded answers from the attending nurses.

 

Failing to get a satisfactory explanation or contact details of the good Samaritan, the family called in the police, leading to the arrest of three nurses who were on duty during the incident.

 

In response, over 400 nurses staged a protest, blocking access to the hospital’s main gate and halting normal activities. Tensions escalated further when the protesters reportedly assaulted a visitor attempting to deposit a corpse in the hospital morgue.

 

One nurse, speaking anonymously, defended the arrested staff, saying:

 

> “The patient was brought in by a good Samaritan who paid for treatment. After the patient died, his relatives accused us of stealing his SIM card. That’s unfair. We only did our job.”

 

 

 

The protesting nurses also marched to the Cross River State Police Command headquarters to demand the release of their colleagues. So far, the police have not released an official statement, and the management of UCTH has remained silent on the matter.

 

The protest caused major disruptions in medical services, leaving many patients stranded and raising concerns about access to urgent care at the facility.