29/07/2026
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โฃ
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โฃ
โฃ
The attention of the Management of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, has been drawn to an online publication by NewsweekNG dated Friday, 24 July 2026, titled โBREAKING: Thugs Allegedly Attack Ex-Ayade Aide During Protest Over Calabar Psychiatric Hospital Recruitment.โโฃ
โฃ
The publication reports an allegation that persons described as โthugsโ attacked Comrade Castro Ezama during a protest at the hospital. It further claims that the alleged โthugsโ were sent by the hospitalโs Acting Medical Director. Management categorically rejects these allegations as false and unsupported by the facts.โฃ
โฃ
On Friday, 24 July 2026, Management received advance information that a group of persons who were not members of the hospital staff planned to stage a protest in the hospital. Management immediately notified the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services and took precautionary measures to safeguard patients, staff, protesters, members of the public, and hospital property while maintaining uninterrupted clinical services. Hospital staff were also directed in advance to remain calm, exercise restraint, and avoid any form of confrontation or violence.โฃ
โฃ
These precautions were informed by the hospitalโs experience during the unrest associated with the 2020 EndSARS protests, when the facility was extensively looted and members of staff were injured. Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services arrived before the protest commenced.โฃ
โฃ
Later that day, approximately eight persons who were not members of the hospital staff arrived and staged a protest outside the hospitalโs main gate.โฃ
โฃ
For the avoidance of doubt, the following points accurately represent the events:โฃ
โฃ
1. The Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services were the only external agencies invited by Management in connection with the protest. Their personnel were present before and throughout the protest and remained at the hospital for several hours afterwards.โฃ
โฃ
2. Neither the Acting Medical Director nor any member of Management invited, mobilised, sponsored, sent, or authorised any person or group to confront or attack the protesters.โฃ
โฃ
3. Before the protest, hospital staff were expressly directed to remain calm, exercise restraint, and avoid any form of confrontation or violence. No member of staff was authorised to threaten, intimidate, or attack any protester.โฃ
โฃ
4. Members of Management were present throughout the incident and actively urged everyone involved to remain calm and exercise restraint.โฃ
โฃ
5. The protest lasted less than ten minutes. Managementโs timely and coordinated intervention kept the situation from escalating. No protester was physically harmed.โฃ
โฃ
For clarity, the exercise referred to in the publication concerned the appointment of a substantive Medical Director for the hospital. The interview for the position was conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja on 11 June 2026. โฃ
โฃ
The Hospital Management neither organised nor conducted the interview, and the outcome of the selection process has not been officially released.โฃ
โฃ
Management respects the right of citizens to peaceful and lawful expression. However, protests at a clinical facility, even when intended to be peaceful, may disrupt essential clinical services and can quickly escalate beyond what anyone intended. โฃ
โฃ
This concern is heightened by the hospitalโs experience during the 2020 EndSARS unrest. The hospitalโs primary responsibility remains the provision of uninterrupted care to its patients. Management therefore strongly appeals to all individuals and groups dissatisfied with any stage of the appointment exercise to direct their concerns to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which conducted the exercise, rather than staging protests at the hospital.โฃ
โฃ
The Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies have been formally notified of the published allegation, and Management welcomes an independent investigation into the matter.โฃ
โฃ
Management urges media organisations and members of the public to verify allegations before publishing or circulating them. NewsweekNG is formally requested to retract the allegation that the Acting Medical Director sent thugs to attack a protester and to correct its inaccurate description of the exercise as a recruitment process conducted by the hospital.โฃ
โฃ
Management wishes to express its most profound appreciation to His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, for his continued support for the hospital and for the peaceful and enabling environment his administration has continued to provide for the hospitalโs operations. The hospital deeply values this relationship and remains committed to working closely with His Excellency and the Cross River State Government to advance the health and well-being of the people of Cross River State.โฃ
โฃ
The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, remains calm, secure, and fully operational.โฃ
โฃ
๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐:โฃ
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญโฃ
๐
๐จ๐ซ: ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญโฃ
๐
๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ-๐๐ฌ๐ฒ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ, ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ซโฃ
๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐โฃ
