The Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Professor Ememabasi Bassey, has appealed to doctors to resume work following the indefinite strike declared after operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission invaded the hospital and arrested a senior medical officer and four others.

The strike action, which disrupted critical medical services at the hospital, has reportedly left patients in pain and raised fears of preventable deaths, especially among patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), emergency wards and premature babies in incubators.

Addressing journalists in Uyo, Professor Bassey said the hospital, which serves millions of residents across Akwa Ibom State and neighbouring areas, could not afford a prolonged shutdown.

“For the sake of patients in the ICU, emergency units and premature babies in incubators who need constant medical attention, I appeal to our doctors to resume work so that lives can be saved,” he said.

The CMD gave a detailed account of the incident, alleging that EFCC operatives stormed the hospital on Tuesday, fired tear gas and arrested Professor Eyo Ekpe, a Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, alongside four other staff members without prior notice to management or the presentation of any arrest warrant.

According to him, the operation triggered panic within the hospital, with some workers sustaining injuries during the confrontation.

The incident prompted the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and the Association of Resident Doctors, UUTH chapter, to embark on an indefinite strike and condemn the invasion as unacceptable.

In a joint communiqué signed by MDCAN Chairman, Dr. Mfon Inoh; Secretary, Dr. Kalu Nnenna; ARD President, Dr. Ekomobong Udoh; and Secretary, Dr. Kenneth Ikott, the associations described the incident as a violent attack and abduction of hospital management staff.

Professor Bassey disclosed that the EFCC operatives had visited the hospital to verify a medical report suspected to be fake.

According to him, preliminary investigations suggested that some individuals within or outside the hospital may have collaborated to produce the forged report.

“UUTH letterhead is everywhere. You can find it in many business centres. We have seen several fake medical reports purportedly issued from this hospital, which we have always denied. Even the letterhead used was an outdated version,” he said.

Despite criticising the conduct of the operatives involved, Bassey said he would not condemn the EFCC as an institution.

“EFCC is doing a good job in this country. Because of one incident, we should not rubbish a government institution doing important work. Rather, we can condemn the activities of a few operatives who caused this unfortunate situation,” he stated.

The CMD also denied claims that the hospital ignored earlier EFCC correspondence, insisting that management only received one letter dated April 21, 2026, while the earlier March 11 letter allegedly never reached his office.

He explained that the authentication process experienced delays due to public holidays, weekends and the official assignment of Professor Ekpe, who had travelled to participate in national postgraduate medical examinations.

According to him, Ekpe eventually returned and produced a draft report confirming that the medical document under investigation was fake — the same report he presented to EFCC operatives before his arrest.

Bassey questioned why the operatives targeted Professor Ekpe rather than hospital management if the issue concerned delayed authentication.

“To the best of my knowledge, before you arrest somebody, there should be a warrant. If anyone should be held responsible for delay, it should be me as the CEO, not someone carrying out an assignment,” he argued.

He further alleged that the operatives entered the hospital without identifying themselves to management and proceeded directly to Ekpe’s office before later returning with armed, hooded men.

“His staff ran out because they saw hooded armed men invade the office,” he said.

The CMD said he immediately contacted the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, who initially suspected the men might not be police officers and advised the hospital to secure its gates pending clarification.

However, by the time it was confirmed that the operatives were from the EFCC, tear gas had already been deployed and panic had spread across the hospital premises.

Professor Bassey said he later accompanied the operatives to the EFCC regional office, where the detained staff members were eventually released after discussions with senior officials.

He added that several staff members sustained injuries during the incident, including one with a visible head wound.