Metro

Debt: Hospital Detains Nursing Mother For Four Months

Published

3 years ago

September 6, 2022

A middle-aged nursing mother, identified as Mrs Chinenye Agu, is seeking help as the hospital where she put to bed has refused to release both her and the new born baby since May.

Agu, who hailed from Ezeagu in Enugu State, but resides at Afor-Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, said she had the baby through a caesarian operation at the Ifechukwu Hospital, Umuoji, Idemili South Local Government Area, in May.

She said they were initially charged N480,000 but has paid N340,000 remaining a balance of N140,000.

She lamented that their situation worsened because her husband, whose name she mentioned as Anthony Agu, had lost his means of livelihood as a commercial driver when his vehicle was stolen during the pregnancy.

According to her, the husband, who now does bus conductor, had been depositing his daily returns together with contributions from some good spirited individuals at the hospital, where they were able to pay N340,000 out of the initial N480,000 charged by the hospital.

Mrs Agu, who spoke to journalists at the hospital on Tuesday, is, soliciting financial assistance from good spirited individuals and philanthropists to enable her take her baby home.

She said her family has pleaded with the hospital management to let her and her baby go, so they could be making payment by instalments, until they offset the balance, but the hospital refused.

She said, “We have been at the hospital since May as a result of our inability to pay the medical bill of N480,000. I delivered through a caesarian section and the amount they billed us was beyond us. This is our first child.

“My husband is a commercial driver, he lost his vehicle when I was pregnant and since then he has been doing bus conductor and also been making returns on a daily basis where, together with contributions we gathered, we have been able to pay N340,000 out of the original amount.

“Now, I want to go home to take proper care of my baby and that is why I am soliciting for help from kind spirited individuals. I and my baby have been managing to feed all this while, but I thank God that the baby is okay.”

Efforts to speak with a top management of the hospital proved abortive as calls put across to their telephone line were not taken as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, some public commentators have condemned the decision of the hospital management to detain the woman and her baby.

A lawyer said, “I don’t know which law permits a hospital to detain its patient over non payment of hospital bill. This is totally unfair.”

Related Topics:Anambra Enugu hospital nursing mother

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Metro

Bandits Invade Kwara Community, Kill One, Kidnap Eight Others

Published

7 hours ago

September 7, 2025

Editor

Shagbe village and its environs in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State was, at the weekend, thrown into confusion following the killing of one person and the kidnapping of eight others by bandits.

A source, who spoke with The Guardian, noted that the bandits were armed to the teeth with weapons ranging from guns of different shapes and sizes, as well as clubs.

According to a source (names withheld), the bandits waged brutal attacks that scared away youths and other able-bodied villagers.

The source told our reporter on the phone that the attack occurred at about 9:15 pm on Saturday.

He said: “One person was killed during the violent invasion and eight others declared missing.”

A police source disclosed that the confusion has prompted the Commissioner of Police (CP), Adekimi Ojo, to order the concerned Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to the village.

He, however, added: “The volatile situation in our community has made an on-the-spot assessment unrealistic.”

CP Ojo confirmed the attack, saying that the DPO of Oke-Ode is already in the area for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation

Metro

Amotekun Arrests Suspected Kidnapper In Osun

Published

9 hours ago

September 7, 2025

Editor

The Osun Amotekun Corps says it has arrested a suspected kidnapper, Ayobola Awe, in the Isokun area of Ilesa.

This was contained in a statement issued by Mr Yusuf Abass, the Public Relations Officer for the Corps, on Sunday in Osogbo.

The statement said that the suspect, popularly called ” Bishop Awasere”, had been on the wanted list of some security agencies over alleged murder and kidnapping.

It stated that Awe and his notorious gang were tracked to a hideout in the Isokun area of Ilesa at 5:59p.m.

“During the raid, Amotekun operatives recovered hard drugs and a cache of assorted charms believed to be used by the gang for spiritual fortification.

“We have also launched a manhunt on some gang members that managed to escape during the operation,” the statement added.

According to the statement, the arrest represents a significant stride in the fight against violent crime in the state and its surrounding areas.
(VANGUARD)

Metro

Police Foil Robbery Attacks On Anambra Roads, Recover Vehicles

Published

1 day ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command said it has repelled armed robbery attacks in Oba and Awka areas of the state, with two stolen vehicles earlier snatched by the robbery gang recovered.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that the police patrols have continued to foil plans of criminals following the security and safety measures put in place by the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu.

Ikenga added that the swift response and coordinated chase by police operatives attached to the Central Police Station, Awka and police operatives attached to Oba Division, led to the recovery of the snatched vehicles from the criminals at different operations.

The statement read in part, “Police operatives have recovered two abandoned, but suspected snatched vehicles in Oba and Awka, respectively. Efforts are, however, ongoing to apprehend the culprits.

“The swift response and coordinated chase by Police Operatives attached to the Central Police Station, Awka, led to the recovery of a snatched Lexus ES 350 car with registration number Lagos – BDG 350 JR, along Parkers Road, Awka, on September 4, 2025, at about 10.10 pm.

“Four armed men, operating in a tricycle without a registration number, had earlier blocked the victim along Ifite Road, Amaenyi, forcing him to abandon his vehicle before they fled the scene with it.

“Similarly, in the early hours of September 5, 2025, police operatives attached to Oba Division received information that a black Lexus RX 300 Jeep with registration number Anambra – AWK 31 DU, had been abandoned by yet-to-be-identified persons around Mummy Hotel axis, along Owerri–Onitsha Expressway, Oba.

“Upon receipt of the information, police operatives moved swiftly to the location and recovered the vehicle, which has since been towed to the station for safekeeping.

“To this end, the command appreciates the good people of Anambra for their timely and useful information, noting that effective collaboration between the Police and the public remains a key strategy in combating crime.”