The Edo State Police Command on Sunday said it detained one Mr Owegie Christopher for allegedly attacking and threatening to kill Dr Osaretin Asemota of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, after the death of his wife in the health institution.
OsunDailyNG reports that the Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City.
Nwabuzor, said the detention was to take the man to safe custody, noting that it was a strategic move to help him get rid of evil thoughts that may lead him to commit suicide or cause harm to himself and even others as a result of the agony of losing his wife.
He explained that the incident happened on Saturday, April 6, 2024, after the death of the deceased who was brought to the hospital in a state of coma.
According to him, on April 6, 2024, Mr Owegie Christopher was said to have taken his wife, who was in a state of coma to UBTH Benin for treatment. The woman was attended to by Dr Osaretin Asemota who stabilised her condition at a time, but she later gave up the ghost while receiving treatment and was confirmed dead by the doctor.
“The news of the woman’s death enraged her husband, Mr Owegie Christopher to the extent that he attacked and assaulted Dr Osaretin Asemota and accused him of being deceptive for asking him to buy expensive medicines for his wife when he knew she will eventually die. He swore to make the doctor go through the same pain he passed through.
“The doctor was, however, rescued by his colleagues and the hospital security personnel. He immediately headed to Ugbowo Police Divisional Headquarters, Benin City, to lodge a complaint of assault against Mr Owegie Christopher.
“The Divisional Police Officer received his complaint and the suspect, who was initially apprehended by the security personnel of the hospital.
“Their statements were taken while the suspect was kept in safe custody, counselled for about one hour, and was released unconditionally to go home with his family members and friends.
The essence of keeping him in safe custody, according to Nwabuzor, is to help him get rid of negative thoughts “that may lead him to commit suicide or cause harm to himself and even others as a result of the agony of losing his wife.”
The state police command further appealed to members of the Association of Residents Doctors of the hospital, who earlier threatened to embark on industrial action because of the assault against their member, to have a rethink.
