Metro

Debt: Hospital Detains Nursing Mother For Four Months

Published

4 years ago

September 6, 2022

Editor

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

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.

Metro

Grandfathers Arrested For Drug Trafficking

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Two grandfathers, aged 83 and 78, are among several suspects apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a fresh nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.

Pa John Ofiel, 83, was arrested on Tuesday, 28 April during a raid in the Aba region of Abia State.

The NDLEA said that operatives acting on credible intelligence recovered 700 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis already packaged into retail sachets.

The octogenarian, who claimed to be a professional shoemaker allegedly confessed to delving into the illicit trade.

In Ekiti State on Thursday 30 April 78 year old Ogunjobi Samuel was detained at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti where officers seized 350 grams of cannabis from him, identifying him as a local peddler.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, (CCEO), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the various state commands for their drug supply reduction efforts.

He urged officers to maintain the current momentum, balancing enforcement with the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities.
The enforcement drive also led to the arrest of a notorious drug dealer in Oyo State Taofik Adeyemi, 49.

He was apprehended on Saturday, 2 May, at his residence in Ibadan after months of evading the authorities.

He was caught alongside his salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde, with 3.085kg of cannabis and a getaway vehicle.

Across other states, the NDLEA recorded significant seizures including over 140,000 pills and capsules of Tramadol intercepted in separate operations targeting transit routes from Damaturu to Hadejia.

A raid on Awolowo Market in Mushin area of Lagos state resulted in the recovery of 740kg of cannabis while in Kaduna, two suspects were caught on the Abuja-Jos highway with 290kg of compressed cannabis concealed in a Honda Ridgeline.

A 65-year-old driver was intercepted at the Ile-Ife toll gate in Osun state conveying skunk and methamphetamine, leading to a follow up arrest of the consignment’s owner in Ilesha.

In line with it’s mandate, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, holding enlightenment lectures for students, Islamic schools, and commercial motorcyclists in Niger, Kano, Anambra, and Lagos states.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the agency remains committed to “cleansing the streets” of both notorious distributors and those who use age as a shield for criminal activity.