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The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for a full investigation into alleged medical negligence that led to the tragic and preventable death of Akpan Blessing, an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who was stabbed in the early hours of Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in front of her residence in Piawe, Bwari, Abuja.
According to the organisation, Officer Akpan was rushed to multiple medical facilities following the attack but was denied immediate treatment due to the absence of a police report a practice RULAAC described as both illegal and unethical.
The delay in care first at Gabriel Hospital and then at St. Theresa Hospital resulted in her death before she could receive any meaningful medical attention. She was later confirmed dead at Bwari General Hospital.
“This is not only heartbreaking but also a direct violation of Nigerian law,” said RULAAC Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, in a statement issued Wednesday.
“The insistence on a police report before treatment in emergencies is illegal and has once again claimed the life of an innocent Nigerian.”
RULAAC referenced the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, which mandates all hospital both public and private to provide prompt and adequate care to victims of gunshot wounds or other life-threatening injuries without waiting for a police report.
While Officer Akpan was a victim of stabbing, RULAAC emphasized that the principle remains the same: saving lives must come first.
The group urged the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to open a professional inquiry into the actions of the medical personnel at Gabriel and St. Theresa hospitals, noting that their refusal to treat the officer amounted to gross professional misconduct.
“Medical practitioners are bound by their oath to preserve life. Hospitals that prioritize protocol over people must be held accountable,” Nwanguma said.
RULAAC also called on the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to issue a clear and public directive reminding all hospitals that treatment of violence victims must not be delayed on account of missing police documentation.
It further demanded a swift and thorough investigation into the stabbing incident, with a view to bringing those responsible for the attack to justice.
“This is not the first time a Nigerian has died due to this deadly insistence on police paperwork. How many more must die before this culture of indifference ends?” the organisation asked.
Officer Akpan, a mother of four, is being mourned by family, friends, and colleagues. Her death, according to RULAAC, symbolizes the failure of systems that were supposed to protect and serve.
“We demand accountability. We demand reform. Above all, we demand that no Nigerian in distress is ever again abandoned to die in the waiting room of any hospital,” RULAAC said.
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