Manager of Health Facility Arrested Following Death of First-Class Graduate in Rivers State

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the manager of Paragon Clinics and Imaging Diagnosis, a private health facility in Port Harcourt. The arrest is part of an investigation into the death of Rebekah Sekidika, a first-class graduate of Microbiology from Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, who died during a procedure at the hospital on February 2, 2024.

Rebekah’s father, Sampson Sekidika, stated that his daughter died during a procedure that she did not require, as she had only visited the facility for tests due to delayed menstruation before a planned trip abroad for her Master’s and Ph.D. programs. The distraught father highlighted that the procedure led to complications resulting in her death.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of the manager and stated that earlier invitations to the doctor and another individual involved in administering the anesthetic were not honored. The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation.