Gunshots, Tear Gas At UUTH: EFCC Says Action Was Defensive After Attack

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained the circumstances surrounding its controversial operation at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State, saying its operatives resorted to the use of firearms and tear gas after coming under attack.

The incident, which has continued to generate public outrage, reportedly occurred during a raid on Tuesday involving masked EFCC operatives who stormed the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abak Road, Uyo, in an attempt to arrest the deputy chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Eyo Ekpe.

Sources said the operatives were also seeking to recover an alleged controversial medical report linked to a suspect currently being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency.

The operation, however, descended into chaos when medical personnel resisted the arrest of Prof. Ekpe, a thoracic specialist said to have been preparing for a surgical procedure at the time.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that tensions escalated rapidly, leading to panic within the hospital environment as EFCC operatives allegedly fired gunshots and tear gas in the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

Prof. Ekpe and five others were eventually taken away during the ensuing confusion, an action that left patients and hospital staff distressed, with some reports indicating that vulnerable patients, including those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, were affected.

In a reaction, the EFCC said its operatives were forced to respond defensively after being attacked during the operation.

The Commission stated that the situation escalated when its personnel came under assault while carrying out lawful duties.

“Our operatives were stoned while making lawful enquiries at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital,” the agency said in a statement made available in Uyo on Thursday.

The EFCC maintained that the use of force was aimed at preventing further escalation and avoiding casualties after what it described as a violent resistance from the hospital community.

The incident has continued to draw criticism from stakeholders, with calls for an investigation into the conduct of the operatives and the circumstances that led to the disruption of activities within the health facility.