UUTH Raid: EFCC to Discipline Officers as Olukoyede Orders Apology, Full Investigation

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has promised that any officer found to have acted outside established professional standards will face disciplinary action following an incident involving operatives of the commission and staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Akwa Ibom State. The incident occurred on May 12, 2026, following a visit to the teaching hospital by armed commission agents who allegedly assaulted the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Professor Eyo Ekpe, and four other staff members. The operation sparked widespread outrage among medical professionals nationwide, with the Nigerian Medical Association condemning what it described as a “gross abuse of power” and threatening legal action. Following a preliminary review of the incident, Olukoyede directed that an official apology be issued to Professor Ekpe and members of the Nigerian Medical Association. In a statement released on Monday via the EFCC’s official X handle, he stated that the decision was made to address concerns raised by the medical community and members of the public affected by the incident. He expressed regret over the development, stressing that the operatives’ conduct did not meet the commission’s expected standards. “While acknowledging that the well-being of Nigerians is at the core of the Commission’s mandate, he expressed regret at the discomfort the unfortunate episode caused staff of the hospital and members of the public,” the statement read.

Olukoyede also confirmed that a thorough inquiry into the incident had been ordered and that any officer found guilty would face internal disciplinary action. “Once the exercise is completed, any officer found to have acted outside the acceptable code of professional conduct would be subjected to the internal disciplinary process,” he said. The EFCC chairman further assured stakeholders that the agency would work closely with relevant bodies to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. Despite the uproar, Olukoyede insisted that the agency would continue to carry out its mandate of combating economic and financial crimes in Nigeria without distraction. He also urged the Nigerian Medical Association and other professional organizations to continue supporting the commission’s anti-corruption operations, emphasizing the importance of partnership in improving accountability and combatting corruption in Nigeria.

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The EFCC chairman’s directive for a probe and apology appears to contradict an earlier statement by the commission, which maintained that the operatives involved acted professionally and did not disrupt hospital activities. In a statement issued on Friday, May 15, 2026, the EFCC had insisted that the visit was “purely administrative” and not a raid. The commission said operatives from its Uyo zonal directorate visited the hospital solely to authenticate a document and not to carry out an arrest operation. “The presence of the Commission’s Operatives in the facility on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 was purely administrative, to facilitate the authentication of a document, rather than a tactical operation to effect arrest,” the EFCC stated. The commission also denied allegations that its operatives arrested or brutalised hospital staff, stating that “no arrests were made and the staff of the hospital that followed our operatives to the Zonal Command were not detained.” However, the EFCC acknowledged being “outraged by the allegations of brutalisation” and noted that even though no physical evidence of bodily harm had been presented, it had ordered an investigation as a responsible organisation. “While awaiting the outcome of this inquiry, any staff of the Commission found to have deviated from the Standard Operating Procedure of the Agency, will not be spared,” the commission had stated.

Professor Eyo Ekpe, a cardiothoracic surgery professor at the teaching hospital, had previously accused EFCC agents of harassing and abusing him and other hospital employees during an attempted arrest over an alleged fraudulent medical report. During a press conference held last Wednesday, Ekpe described the circumstances leading up to the confrontation between EFCC officers and hospital staff, painting a picture of armed operatives storming his office without prior notification to hospital management. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State chapter, went further, threatening a N1 billion lawsuit against the EFCC over the alleged assault. Addressing a press conference in Uyo, the state NMA Chairman, Professor Aniekan Peter, detailed the extent of the alleged assault with graphic specificity. “We observed that Prof Eyo Ekpe was apprehended within the premises of UUTH by masked EFCC operatives who physically assaulted him, beat him to the point of bleeding, handcuffed him alongside other doctors and hospital staff who attempted to intervene,” he said. He also alleged that he himself was affected during the incident, stating, “Professor Peter, Akwa Ibom NMA chairman, was shoved and exposed to teargas when he approached the scene seeking clarification from the operatives.” The NMA demanded an apology to the affected doctors, identification and prosecution of those involved in the operation, and compensation for damages. The association also declared that it would not provide medical services to EFCC officials or their relatives until its demands were addressed, a threat that would have crippled healthcare delivery for anti-graft agency personnel in the state. The Benue State branch of the NMA also condemned the incident, describing it as “disturbing, unacceptable, and a gross abuse of power.” The association maintained that no government agency, irrespective of its mandate, has the right to intimidate or humiliate healthcare workers or invade medical institutions in a manner that endangers staff and patients.

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The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Ememabasi Bassey, stated that Ekpe and four other employees were effectively arrested without prior notification to hospital administration. Bassey argued that the medical report in question was forged and suggested that officials at the institution may have worked with outsiders to create it. “One of the things we must get to the bottom of is how the lawyer handling the case got the fake medical report. There may be bad eggs within the hospital working with outsiders,” he said. Bassey berated the conduct of the operatives, saying they went directly to Ekpe’s office without notifying management or presenting an arrest warrant. “At no point did they come to look for the CMD, the CMAC, or the director of administration. They went to his office,” he said. The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and the Association of Resident Doctors, UUTH chapters, both criticized the incident and declared industrial action in response to the alleged attack and arrest. The groups demanded disciplinary action against the participating operatives, compensation and treatment for wounded workers, public apologies in two national publications, and repairs for property damage.

Following the direct intervention by the Akwa Ibom State Government, the industrial action embarked upon by workers of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital was suspended. The suspension became possible following a joint stakeholders’ meeting convened by the state government at the Old EXCO Chambers, Governor’s Office, Uyo. The meeting, which followed the directive of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, was chaired by the Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, and brought together representatives of the state government, the EFCC, security agencies, management of UUTH, the Nigerian Medical Association, Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and other health sector unions. In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, stakeholders described the incident as “unfortunate and entirely avoidable” while condemning the altercation in its entirety. The EFCC, through its representatives at the meeting, expressed regret over the incident and apologised to all affected parties, including the Chief Medical Director of UUTH, Professor Eyo Ekpe; JOHESU Chairman, Mr Akanubong Asuquo; NMA Chairman, Professor Aniekan Peter; and the NANNM, over what was described as the unruly conduct of its operatives during the operation at the hospital.

The anti-graft agency further assured stakeholders that a formal apology would be issued by its headquarters and pledged that such an occurrence would not happen again. As part of the resolutions reached, the EFCC and the management of UUTH are to establish effective communication channels to ensure the lawful and professional handling of any ongoing or future investigations involving the institution. The stakeholders also resolved that the government should actively participate in identifying individuals behind the alleged fake medical report connected to the matter and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice. The Akwa Ibom State Government commended the Chairman of the EFCC for ordering an investigation into the incident, as well as the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare for constituting a panel of inquiry. Meanwhile, the health sector unions expressed appreciation to Governor Umo Eno for his timely intervention in resolving the crisis and for his continued support to the healthcare sector. In what was widely regarded as a major outcome of the meeting, all health sector unions agreed, in the overriding interest of public health and industrial harmony, to suspend the strike action after consultation with their congresses. The meeting also resolved that all parties should refrain from further media exchanges capable of escalating tensions or prejudicing ongoing engagements. A liaison committee comprising representatives of the state government, UUTH management, the EFCC, and health sector unions is to be constituted to monitor the implementation of the resolutions reached and prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.

UUTH Raid: EFCC to Discipline Officers as Olukoyede Orders Apology, Full Investigation

175 ISIS Terrorists, Top Commanders Killed in 7 Days – DHQ Confirms

The Defence Headquarters has officially confirmed that over 175 Islamic State terrorists have been killed in a series of joint military operations conducted in collaboration with the United States Africa Command over a period of seven days. In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the military high command described the coordinated air and ground strikes as a major breakthrough in ongoing counter-terrorism efforts across northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region. The joint operations, which began last week following intelligence reports linking ISIS and ISWAP fighters to planned attacks in parts of North-East Nigeria, also resulted in the elimination of three top terrorist commanders. According to Major General Uba, the strikes successfully destroyed multiple ISIS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs, military equipment, and financial networks used to sustain terrorist operations in the region.

Major General Uba stated, “It will be recalled that the joint strikes started a few days ago. As of 19 May 2026, assessments indicate that 175 ISIS terrorists have been eliminated from the battlefield. The joint strikes have resulted in the destruction of ISIS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistical hubs, military equipment and financial networks used to sustain terrorist operations.” The Defence Headquarters noted that the success of the operation was made possible through a newly established counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing partnership between Nigeria and the United States, a collaboration that has significantly enhanced the capacity of Nigerian forces to identify, track, and neutralize high-value terrorist targets.

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Major General Uba identified the deceased commanders as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki (ISIS global operations director), Abd-al Wahhab (ISWAP senior leader), and Abu Musa al-Mangawi (ISWAP senior member). A fourth terrorist, Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir (ISWAP senior media production manager and close confidant of al-Minuki), was also killed during the operations. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was described by the Nigerian military and United States officials as one of the most significant ISIS operatives in the world and the group’s second-in-command globally. According to intelligence assessments, al-Minuki played a central role in ISIS external operations, including terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics, and attack planning targeting Nigerians and innocent civilians around the world.

United States President Donald Trump, announcing the killing on his Truth Social platform, called al-Minuki “the most active terrorist in the world.” Trump praised the joint operation, stating: “At my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield. He thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing.” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also confirmed the killing, saying: “Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State.” Tinubu thanked Trump for his “leadership and unwavering support in this effort” and expressed hope for “more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation.” Major General Uba stated that the elimination of these commanders had significantly disrupted command structures, operational coordination, and external attack networks operating across insurgent camps in northeastern Nigeria and beyond.

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According to military sources, the operation that killed al-Minuki was “a meticulously planned and highly complex precision air-land operation” carried out on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from just after midnight through 4:00 am. The raid targeted al-Minuki’s “concealed and fortified enclave” at a remote village in Borno State, the epicentre of a 17-year armed insurgency in northeastern Nigeria. The operation reportedly involved US Special Operations MQ-9 drones, AC-130 gunships, and elements of the US Navy’s SEAL Team 6, working in close coordination with Nigerian ground forces. No soldiers or assets were reported lost during the operation. General Dagvin Anderson, head of the United States Africa Command, told a congressional hearing on May 19 that Nigeria played a crucial role in the coordinated operation. “Nigeria has played a crucial role over the past few months, helping us identify targets, providing intelligence support, and offering the necessary assistance to carry out the operation,” General Anderson said. The Nigerian military sees al-Minuki’s death as removing a “critical node through which ISIS coordinated and directed operations across different regions of the world.”

Previously a senior member of Boko Haram, which has been waging an Islamist insurgency in the region since 2009, al-Minuki was linked to the 2018 Dapchi kidnapping of more than 100 schoolgirls in northeastern Nigeria’s Yobe State. Between March 2015 and early 2016, he also facilitated the movement of fighters to Libya to support ISIS operations in North Africa. Under United States sanctions since 2023, al-Minuki oversaw ISIS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks against “ethnic and religious minority communities,” according to the Nigerian military. His elimination comes as ISIS activity is increasingly concentrated in Africa, hitting a record high of 86 percent in the first quarter of 2026, up from 49 percent in all of 2024, according to a global conflict monitor ACLED report.

In a separate development, the Defence Headquarters dismissed reports alleging that terrorist groups had established operational bases in Nigeria’s South-West region. The clarification followed growing public concern over recent attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Among the 46 kidnapped victims was a Mathematics teacher at Community High School in Ahoro-Esinele identified as Michael Oyedokun, who was beheaded by his captors. A video allegedly released by the abductors on Sunday showed the teacher tied up before he was killed, triggering fresh fears over the safety of other victims still being held.

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Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed the killing through his Special Adviser on Media, Suleimon Olanrewaju, on Monday. The governor also disclosed that security agencies had recorded some breakthroughs, with about six individuals arrested in connection with the abduction. According to Olanrewaju, the suspects are believed to be “informants or people running logistics for the terrorists,” while three additional individuals of interest were arrested by another security outfit within the state. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, described the abduction of pupils and staff in Oyo State as “callous and reprehensible” and stated that ongoing military operations remain focused on securing the safe and unconditional release of all abducted victims.

Major General Onoja stated, “Current intelligence assessments do not support the conclusion that any structured or permanent terrorist base exists within the forests or hinterlands of the South West region.” Speaking on the heightened security architecture within the state, Onoja disclosed that troops deployed to the affected areas had established contact with the suspected kidnappers and were sustaining coordinated pursuit and rescue operations across forest corridors and other identified hideouts. The DHQ urged Nigerians, particularly residents of the South-West, to remain calm and continue supporting security agencies with credible information, stressing that community cooperation remains critical to the success of ongoing rescue missions and broader security operations.

The Defence Headquarters has made clear that these joint operations will continue. Major General Uba stated that “the joint operations will continue to hunt down and destroy those who threaten our nation and regional stability.” The Nigerian Air Force has already intensified its air operations under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, with sustained precision strikes targeting terrorist enclaves in Sambisa Forest and the Tumbuns region. Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of the Air Staff, has reaffirmed the Service’s unyielding resolve to dominate the battlespace, stressing that “operations will persist with increased intensity until all terrorist capabilities are dismantled and threats to national security fully neutralised.” Meanwhile, rescue operations continue for the remaining victims of the Oyo State school abduction, with security agencies maintaining coordinated pursuit across forest corridors and other identified hideouts. The DHQ has assured the public that no effort will be spared to secure the unconditional release of all abducted persons. The successful elimination of 175 ISIS fighters and several top commanders represents one of the most significant counter-terrorism victories in the region in recent years. As military officials continue to assess battle damage and exploit captured intelligence, the full strategic implications of these operations are still unfolding.

175 ISIS Terrorists, Top Commanders Killed in 7 Days – DHQ Confirms

Oyo Abduction: IGP Deploys More Detectives as Panic Spreads Across Ogbomoso

IBADAN — The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has ordered the deployment of additional detectives from the Force Headquarters in Abuja to Oyo State as security agencies intensify efforts to rescue abducted teachers and students from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.

The reinforcement comes amid growing panic across Ogbomoso and neighbouring communities following Friday’s coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School.

A senior police source disclosed that the newly deployed operatives would collaborate with joint security teams already conducting search-and-rescue operations across forest corridors and rural communities in the area.

“More detectives have been deployed from the Force Headquarters to collaborate with the joint security operatives already on the ground,” the source said.

“The kidnapped students and their teachers will soon breathe the air of freedom as the government and the relevant security agencies are leaving no stone unturned.”

According to the source, intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and forest-combing operations had been intensified to ensure the victims were rescued unharmed.

“The security agencies will explore all opportunities to ensure that the students return safely to their parents. There is no cause for the parents and the people of the state to be apprehensive as the government is on top of the situation,” the source added.

Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier confirmed that seven students were abducted from Community Secondary School, while 18 children and seven teachers were kidnapped from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School during the attacks.

The governor also disclosed that one person was killed during the incident.

The attacks, which reportedly occurred around 9:30am on Friday, triggered widespread fear across Ogbomoso, with rumours of further bandit invasions spreading rapidly through schools and communities.

Panic Forces Parents to Withdraw Children

The tension caused many parents to rush to schools to withdraw their children, while some schools hurriedly shut down over fears of possible attacks.

A resident of Ogbomoso, Kazeem Abdullah, described scenes of panic as pupils and students fled classrooms after rumours circulated about armed bandits invading the town.

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“Many parents compounded the problem as they started rushing to their children’s schools to pick them up,” he said.

Reports also emerged from Ajaawa, headquarters of Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area, claiming that armed bandits had infiltrated nearby communities.

However, the Oyo State Police Command dismissed reports of bandit infiltration into Ogbomoso and surrounding areas, describing the development as a false alarm fueled by misinformation.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the command explained that the panic began after students spotted unfamiliar individuals near a school fence and mistakenly concluded they were bandits.

Police investigations later revealed that the individuals were a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, officer attached to the Kwara State Command and two civilians travelling in a Toyota Venza SUV.

“The individuals were questioned and explained that they had merely visited the lady among them in celebration of her birthday,” the statement said.

The command noted that a misunderstanding between some teachers and the visitors escalated suspicion, prompting students to spread unverified information to neighbouring schools and communities.

“Some students began spreading unverified claims to neighbouring schools and surrounding communities, thereby escalating panic and tension across parts of Ogbomoso and Ajaawa before the actual facts of the incident were established,” the police added.

The police assured residents that normal activities had resumed in affected areas, while patrols and visibility policing had been intensified to restore public confidence.

LAUTECH Dismisses Closure Rumours

Meanwhile, the management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, dismissed rumours claiming the institution had been shut down over fears of attacks by suspected bandits.

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In a statement, the institution’s Registrar, Olayinka Balogun, described the reports as false and misleading.

“This is to strongly debunk the rumour making the rounds that the management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, has closed down the university for fear of invasion by bandits,” the statement read.

The university confirmed that academic activities, including ongoing examinations, were continuing normally.

Traditional Rulers Demand Military Base

As fear persists, traditional rulers from the five local government areas in Ogbomosoland have called on the Federal Government to establish a military base in Oriire Local Government Area to combat rising insecurity.

Speaking during a security meeting, the Alapa of Apa, Oba Akin Akintola, warned that attacks around forest communities had become increasingly sophisticated and beyond the capacity of conventional policing alone.

“We, the traditional rulers, are demanding immediate federal intervention, including the establishment of a military formation close to the forest reserve in Oriire Local Government Area,” the monarch said.

“If we have soldiers and artillery stationed there, it will provide protection for many communities in this zone.”

The monarch stressed that while police officers had made efforts, military deployment was necessary to secure rural communities and forest corridors vulnerable to kidnappers and armed gangs.

“South-West has now been infiltrated by bandits. We do not have the capacity or the wherewithal to confront these people ourselves. That is why we are appealing to the Federal Government to act urgently,” he added.

The royal fathers also warned that worsening insecurity could threaten farming activities, displace rural residents and discourage participation in future elections if urgent measures were not taken.

Oyo Abduction: IGP Deploys More Detectives as Panic Spreads Across Ogbomoso