Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Cross River State Government has sealed a private maternity clinic in Calabar Municipality following the death of a patient who died after undergoing a surgical procedure at the unregistered facility. The closure was carried out on Monday, June 8, 2026, by the State Task Force on Health Quality and Anti-Quackery Committee, which acted on a petition linking the facility to the patient’s death.
The task force, led by its chairman, Dr. Dan Abubakar, paid an unscheduled visit to Safe Hands Maternity Clinic located at No. 21 Iyata Street. Investigators discovered that the clinic was owned by Mrs. Inyang Ekeng, a Community Health Extension Officer, and was operating from a converted three‑bedroom apartment that had been transformed into a six‑bed maternity ward. No licensed nurses were on staff.
“What we found here is completely unacceptable,” Dr. Abubakar told reporters after the inspection. “Facilities operating under these conditions are potential death traps and have no place in a healthcare system that prioritises patient safety and quality service delivery.”
The inspection revealed that surgical procedures at the clinic were being performed by Dr. Sunday Abeng, a registrar with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH). The task force described the environment as poorly equipped and substandard, entirely unsuitable for surgical interventions. The facility was also found to be operating beyond its approved scope of practice. Investigators discovered that the clinic had admitted an abandoned stroke patient, despite lacking the capacity and infrastructure to manage such cases.
Other infractions identified included the absence of operational licences, inadequate consulting rooms for doctors, poor ventilation, no staff records or patient registers, absence of theatre records, unhygienic conditions, poor waste management systems, and the engagement of unqualified personnel.
“What we found here is completely unacceptable,” Dr. Abubakar repeated, expressing deep concern over the conditions observed. He described the clinic as a serious threat to public health and safety, warning that facilities operating under such conditions have no place in a healthcare system that prioritises patient safety.
Following the findings, the facility was sealed, while the owner and attending doctor were given time to evacuate all admitted patients.
Dr. Abubakar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating quackery and ensuring that residents have access to safe, professional, and regulated healthcare services. He noted that Governor Bassey Otu’s administration is upgrading health infrastructure across the state to provide safer alternatives for residents.
“The Governor is currently facelifting and constructing modern, well‑equipped health centres across the state,” Dr. Abubakar said. “Residents are strongly encouraged to seek care at these approved government facilities rather than risk their lives with quack operators.”
He warned that patronising unaccredited clinics is dangerous and could amount to a “suicide mission” given the unsafe conditions observed. The task force also reaffirmed its commitment to clamping down on illegal health facilities and ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare services across Cross River State.
When contacted, Dr. Sunday Abeng confirmed that officials of the Anti‑Quackery Task Force had visited the facility and stated that the matter was under investigation. State authorities said further actions would depend on the outcome of ongoing investigations.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Cross River State has previously called on the state government to enact legislation regulating maternity homes operated by churches and traditional birth attendants, warning that unregulated practices are putting mothers and children at risk. The latest incident has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of healthcare regulations across the state.
As the investigation continues, the sealed clinic remains shut, and the state government has vowed to pursue all violators of healthcare regulations, sending a clear message that illegal medical operations will not be tolerated.
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