There was a near bloodbath in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, on Monday at the Edo Specialist Hospital as personnel of the State Security Service (SSS) clashed with private guards and members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over an alleged unprofessional response by medical personnel in the state government-owned health facility.

The incident occurred when the SSS brought in one of their men who had collapsed during a meeting in their office.

Fortunately, the timely intervention of police officers dispatched from the Oba Market Police Station and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Government House prevented a shootout. Nonetheless, some individuals sustained injuries, including private security guards and female personnel of the NSCDC. An unmarked white Hilux Van was seen leaving the premises, carrying the suspected SSS personnel wearing a hospital jacket.

An SSS official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained, “We were in a meeting when he slumped, and he was rushed to our health facility to check his pulse. We then rushed him to the Edo Specialist Hospital, which is the closest to our office. But the reception we got there was poor.

Our people had to bring our colleague down from the vehicle. When you go to the hospital, courtesy demands that you bring the patient down and attend to him or her, at least show commitment. But right in the car, they said they cannot carry him, and we must carry him down ourselves.”

However, when contacted, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. David Odiko, stated that the patient was promptly attended to by the doctor on duty, who confirmed him dead at the time of arrival. Odiko mentioned that he was not present in the hospital during the incident but learned about it while in court for a case.

According to him, the doctor on duty found the patient lying in the car without signs of breathing movement, pulse, or heartbeat. Despite attempts at CPR, there was no response.

Odiko added, “The diagnosis the doctor made was that he was brought in dead, and they said they were not going to take that. They personally moved him into our facility and dropped him on the floor.

I was told that another group of personnel moved in. They actually injured the Civil Defence personnel who was on duty on her head.”