Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Ondo, Nigeria — A 28-year-old pregnant woman identified as Iyanu has died following a failed delivery at an unlicensed medical facility in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area, Ondo State, police confirmed on Sunday. The tragedy has sparked alarm over the proliferation of illegal clinics and the risks they pose to maternal health.
The Ondo State Police Command has taken into custody Kehinde Olawuyi, 36, and his wife, Eniola Olawuyi, in connection with the incident after a resident raised the alarm about the illegal operation. According to a police statement released by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, the couple ran the unauthorised clinic at Orita, Odigbo, where Iyanu was admitted on January 4, 2026 around midday for childbirth.
Jimoh said the woman’s delivery was mishandled at the facility, leading to severe bleeding and loss of consciousness. Despite efforts to rush her to a legitimate medical centre in Odigbo for emergency care, she was later pronounced dead. Initial investigations by the police revealed that the clinic was operating without a licence and that the Olawuyis were not registered medical practitioners.
“The Ondo State Police Command wants to inform the public that it has initiated an investigation into an alleged case concerning the operation of an illegal medical facility in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State,” Jimoh’s statement said.
He recounted that on January 18, 2026, around 6:00 pm, a concerned citizen from the Sabo Area of Odigbo reported that Kehinde and Eniola were operating the clinic in defiance of medical regulations. The report prompted immediate police action and the subsequent arrest of the couple, who are now in custody as investigations continue.
Authorities allege that the Olawuyis performed the delivery in an unprofessional manner, resulting in the woman’s complications and eventual death. Police emphasised that neither suspect possessed the necessary qualifications or licences to deliver healthcare services, particularly obstetric care.
Police said the case file will be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) once the full investigation is completed, after which charges are expected to be filed.
The tragic incident highlights persistent concerns about unregulated health facilities across parts of Nigeria, where desperate patients — particularly expectant mothers — sometimes turn to unlicensed clinics due to cost, access barriers, or perceived convenience. Health experts warn that such facilities lack the training, equipment and emergency capabilities necessary to handle childbirth complications, placing vulnerable women at grave risk.
Maternal mortality remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, and authorities have repeatedly urged pregnant women to seek antenatal and delivery services at licensed hospitals and clinics staffed by qualified professionals. The Ondo State Police Command reiterated its call for community vigilance, urging residents to report illegal clinics and other unregulated health operations to prevent similar tragedies.
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