Family of a missing 50-year-old woman, Isioma Phebian John, has accused the management of Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos of negligence over the missing of their mother.
The woman living with dementia was last seen on February 25, 2022, at about 4:00p.m. at the hospital reception. Mrs. John, a light skinned woman was last seen wearing a leopard print gown.
Her son, Kuthumi Iyele, said he had gone to get drugs prescribed for her by the doctor, only to come back and his mother was nowhere to be found.
According to him, the hospital has refused to take responsibility, the CCTV is not functioning, and this is not the first missing person case in the hospital.
Narrating the incident to The Guardian, Iyele said: “The doctor prescribed drugs and asked me to go upstairs to make the payment and I left my mum at the reception. I didn’t stay up to a minute at the counter and I came back, but couldn’t find my mum. I complained and they said they don’t know where my mum was and can’t do anything.
“I approached the security man and he told me that my mum must have gone outside, I asked severally and they showed no concern or any effort to help me to look for her. I asked for the Closed-circuit television (CCTV) to be played and I was told that they don’t know who is in charge.
“The security personnel showed me a paper containing missing persons as if it’s normal for people to go missing. I met with the management of the hospital yesterday and they sounded unconcerned.
“I reported the matter to Sabo Police Station on Saturday and they are yet to get back to us and we have been the only person searching for her.”
Speaking with The Guardian, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sabo, Sunday Ayeni confirmed the incident, the woman’s son neither returned to the station after he made the complaint on Saturday nor written a statement.
“We have similar cases where people will come to the station and will never come back for follow-up. I checked our register and saw the entry and the picture of his mother.
“He should come back and write his statement for the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) and we will disseminate to other stations.” When The Guardian reached out to the hospital, Chika Aguji of the Public Relations department said she couldn’t make any comment on that.
