IG to Probe Murder of Akwa Ibom Medical Doctor

IG to Probe Murder of Akwa Ibom Medical Doctor

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase may take over investigation into the murder of the Head, Pathology Department of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Dr. Ivy Umana, the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole has said.

Adewole, who addressed the management and staff during a visit to the Hospital at weekend also pledged federal government assistance to the health institution to meet its obligation especially in the completion of projects and recruitment of nurses.

Calling for a minute silence in honour of the late Umana, the minister expressed disgust that more than two weeks after the killing, the culprits have not been arrested to face the law.

“I will take it up with the IG when I get back to Abuja so that they can appreciate the seriousness and urgency on the matter.

“I will also raise it with the state Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, because unless we apprehend those who committed the terrible act, nobody is secure and that is why it is important to do justice and build trust and confident in our people.

“We can only develop in an atmosphere of peace and no one can make progress if there is no peace,” the minister noted.

THISDAY learnt that at the visit, the Adewale was confronted by union leaders in the hospital over the murder of the pathologist, Umana, with no arrest made more than two weeks after the crime was committed

Umana was declared missing by the university authority two days after not reporting to work. This prompted the management to raise the alarm, and during the search, she was discovered to have been murdered by suspected hired assassins at her private residence in Shelter Afrique Housing Estate in Uyo, the state capital.

“We demand justice for Dr. Umana who was our teacher and mentor. The death has been taken to the national level and everybody has to know that, and the culprits must be found and dealt with. Two weeks without seeing the culprits is too long. Something has to be done,” they said.

The state Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Augustine Umoh, also said: “We are truly in a state of mourning because exactly two weeks ago the body of the senior pathologist was found murdered in her house. The implication of this is extensive.

“If you understand the fact that a pathologist has to work in a diagnostic situation and has to work in a situation where he has to tell the facts how they are without fearing that he might die today, murder tomorrow, kidnap or dealt with, it is imperative that the killers of this colleague be brought to justice.”

The state chairman of NMA called on the state governor to do something about the dead and get to the root of the matter. “We cannot be working freely if we know we are in danger, whether at home or at our place of work,” he said.