Metro

Debt: Hospital Detains Nursing Mother For Four Months

Published

4 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

Up Next

Spill: Odimodi Community Decries Abandonment Of Broken Valve By Shell

Don't Miss

BREAKING: Rivers Police Rescue 15 Kidnapped Children

Comments

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

15 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.

Metro

Police Arrest Private Chef Over Alleged N150m Theft, Drugging Of Employer, Burglary

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a chef, John Cosmos Govi, over his alleged involvement in a burglary operation at a residence in Abuja, where luxury items and valuables worth about N150 million were reportedly stolen.

The arrest was announced on Monday, May 25, 2026, by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, who said the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) after investigations into allegations of criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, theft, malicious damage and administering harmful substances.

According to police findings, Govi, who allegedly gained employment as a chef at the residence, was said to have studied the movement of occupants, internal routine and security setup before allegedly carrying out the operation on April 23, 2026.

Investigators said he reportedly worked with two accomplices identified as Peter and Moses, who are currently on the run.

Police alleged that food prepared in the house was laced with a suspected sedative substance to weaken the occupants and security personnel.

After they reportedly became unconscious, the suspects allegedly broke into the property, damaged CCTV installations and stole 20 luxury wristwatches valued at about N150 million, alongside other valuables.

Speaking on the development, DCP Anthony Placid said the suspect was intercepted around the Gwagwalada axis of the Federal Capital Territory while attempting to flee to Lagos. He added that an iPhone 17 Pro Max, believed to belong to the victim, and a suspected chemical substance were recovered.

“We remain committed to dismantling organised criminal networks and ensuring that all fleeing accomplices are brought to justice,” Placid said.

Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and conclude investigations into the case.