Nigeria – Suspected unqualified medical practitioners have reportedly been arrested for allegedly performing high-risk thyroid surgeries in filthy, makeshift facilities without proper training, licences or sterile equipment, according to a report circulating on social media.
Videos shared online show unsuspecting patients undergoing neck surgeries in unhygienic conditions. The footage, posted on Instagram and X, shows what appear to be procedures taking place in substandard settings.
Thyroid surgery is a complex procedure that carries significant risks, including life-threatening bleeding, infection and damage to nearby nerves, when performed improperly or by untrained individuals.
In its post, BSN stated: “Suspected unqualified practitioners have reportedly been arrested for allegedly performing high-risk thyroid surgeries in filthy, makeshift facilities without proper training, licences or sterile equipment. Videos have emerged showing unsuspecting patients undergoing neck surgeries in unhygienic conditions.”
The account explicitly noted that “the circumstances surrounding the arrests and the identities of those involved have not been independently verified.”
As of publication, no official statement from the Nigeria Police Force, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), or state health authorities confirming the specific arrests related to thyroid surgeries could be independently located. The report has drawn public concern over the ongoing problem of medical quackery in the country, where unlicensed individuals sometimes operate illegal clinics and perform procedures that endanger patients’ lives.
Health experts and regulators have repeatedly warned Nigerians to verify the credentials of medical practitioners and to seek care only at registered facilities. The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act criminalises the practice of medicine by unqualified persons.
Members of the public are advised to report suspected cases of quackery to the police or relevant health regulatory bodies. Further details on the alleged arrests are awaited from official sources.
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