Calabar Psychiatric Hospital denies sponsoring thugs to attack protesters

The management of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, has distanced itself from the ongoing process for the appointment of a substantive medical director, urging aggrieved individuals to channel their complaints to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja.

The hospital said the interview for the position was conducted by the federal ministry in Abuja on June 11, and not by the management of the Calabar-based psychiatric institution, stressing that no official result has been released.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the hospital’s Public Relations Unit while reacting to allegations surrounding a recent protest at the facility over the appointment process.

The management maintained that the hospital played no role in conducting the interview and, therefore, should not be held responsible for grievances arising from the exercise.

It warned that protests within the premises of a psychiatric hospital could disrupt healthcare services and endanger vulnerable patients receiving specialised treatment.

The hospital also dismissed allegations that its acting medical director sponsored thugs to attack protesters during Friday’s demonstration, describing the claim as false, malicious and intended to tarnish the institution’s leadership.

According to the statement, intelligence reports received ahead of the protest prompted the management to notify the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), leading to the deployment of security personnel before the protesters arrived at the hospital.

The management said staff members had been instructed in advance to remain calm, exercise restraint and avoid any form of confrontation, adding that the protest lasted less than 10 minutes and ended peacefully without any reported assault on demonstrators.

It explained that the heightened security measures were informed by the hospital’s experience during the 2020 EndSARS protests, when the facility was allegedly looted and some staff members were injured.

The hospital said it had notified relevant security agencies of the allegations and welcomed an independent investigation into the matter, while reaffirming its commitment to quality healthcare delivery and continued collaboration with the Cross River State Government.