A resident doctor Dr. Ajibola, along with nurses Aishat Awolusi, Rukayat Adeloye,, Peace Alabi, and ward attendant Toyin Adewumi, were taken into custody following the incident. The missing placenta and umbilical cord of a newborn baby sparked outrage, particularly among the people of the community, who nearly set the hospital on fire.
Mother of the new born baby, C.B.A. Williams, a teacher at the Orota Secondary School in Odo-Owa, Oke-Ero, recounted her experience. She was admitted to the hospital while in labor and gave birth around 7pm. Nurse Adeloye initially attended to her, confirming her labor before moving her to the delivery room, where Nurse Alabi and Ward Attendant Toyin Adewumi assisted in the delivery.
According to Williams after her baby was born, the hospital discharged her the next morning but did not return the placenta and umbilical card, instead handing her a bag of personal items.
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“I was feeling some labour pains on Sunday and I got to the Cottage hospital, some minutes past 1:00 pm on Sunday, and told the particular Nurse Adeloye I met on duty that I was having contractions. She was the one that attended to me after confirming that I was truly in labour.”
“She took me into the labour room and asked me to wait because I still had more time. Not quite long after I came, the doctor also came in and instructed the nurse to usher me into the labour room.”
“In the course of the delivery, it was one nurse Alabi who took the delivery, and nurse Adeloye and the Ward Attendant identified as Mrs Toyin were the three people present,” She is reported to have said
This omission led to escalating tensions in the community.
Local authorities intervened when attempts to resolve the matter internally failed, and community elders had to calm the agitated youths who suspected foul play and were ready to burn down the hospital.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer Ejire-Adeyemi Toun confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation is ongoing. The five detained health workers are being held by the General Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
