Death in the Hands of a Quack: How a 21-Year-Old Mother Died After Botched Medical Treatment in Delta
In yet another tragic incident spotlighting the dangers of unregulated medical practices in Nigeria, a young woman identified as Elizabeth Oyibode has died following alleged treatment by an unlicensed health practitioner in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. The 21-year-old mother of one reportedly slipped into unconsciousness after days of being administered intravenous medications at a local chemist shop and died three days later at the Warri Central Hospital.
Elizabeth’s untimely death has sparked outrage and renewed calls for stricter regulatory enforcement against quack medical practitioners across the country, especially in semi-urban and rural communities where access to standard healthcare remains grossly inadequate.
The tragedy reportedly began with a seemingly minor health complaint. Elizabeth’s partner, Jonathan Okuma, visited a local chemist shop in Ekpan seeking treatment for general body discomfort. According to sources familiar with the case, the visit would set in motion a deadly chain of events. The chemist, which was later discovered to be operating without proper medical licensing, was run by an auxiliary nurse identified as Odiase Ibhade Stella.
Without conducting any laboratory tests or referring Jonathan to a certified medical facility, Stella allegedly diagnosed him with a bacterial infection commonly known as “staphylococcus.” It was also alleged that she insisted on treating not just Jonathan but Elizabeth as well, citing their intimate relationship as justification for a simultaneous therapy approach.
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Multiple sources, including statements from Jonathan and those familiar with the investigation, revealed that the young man initially objected to the expanded treatment plan, preferring to complete his own course of medication before involving Elizabeth. However, it appears his objections were overruled or ignored. The auxiliary nurse allegedly proceeded to administer intravenous medications to Elizabeth without conducting any formal tests or securing informed consent from the couple.
As the days progressed, Stella allegedly added new diagnoses to Elizabeth’s treatment profile—claiming the young woman was also suffering from typhoid and malaria. Despite the absence of diagnostic evidence, the nurse began administering a combination of antibiotics and malaria drugs intravenously.
Jonathan would later tell authorities that he had sent money to the nurse for laboratory tests, expecting a more structured treatment plan. Instead, he returned home from work to a harrowing scene—Elizabeth unconscious, a drip inserted into her arm, and her body showing signs of extreme medical distress.
Panicked, Jonathan rushed Elizabeth to Warri Central Hospital. By then, however, she was exhibiting severe complications: full-body paralysis and an inability to speak. The medical team at the hospital tried to resuscitate and stabilize her, but her condition had already deteriorated significantly. Elizabeth died three days later.
The incident was promptly reported to the Ekpan Division of the Nigeria Police Force. On receiving the complaint, officers visited the chemist shop and shut it down. The nurse, Odiase Ibhade Stella, was arrested and is currently in police custody pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright, confirmed the arrest and the preliminary findings in a brief statement to reporters. “Yes, it is true. The incident is under investigation,” Edafe stated. No further details have been officially released as police continue to gather witness testimonies, medical reports, and evidence from the scene.
Elizabeth Oyibode’s family is now left devastated. Her child, reportedly less than two years old, is now motherless. Friends and relatives say Elizabeth had been full of life, with dreams of furthering her education and supporting her partner as they planned a future together. Those dreams have now been cut short.
This case has raised critical questions about the unchecked proliferation of unlicensed medical practitioners operating freely in Nigerian communities. Chemist shops—some no more than a single-room establishment with a refrigerator and a few shelves of drugs—are often the first point of call for many Nigerians seeking medical care, especially in areas where public hospitals are few and under-resourced.
According to public health experts, the regulatory failure that allows auxiliary nurses, traditional birth attendants, and patent medicine vendors to offer intravenous treatments and make diagnoses has contributed to hundreds—if not thousands—of preventable deaths across the country.
Delta State, like many others in Nigeria, has witnessed a disturbing trend in the rise of unqualified medical practitioners. The Department of Health and the State Ministry of Justice have long promised to crack down on illegal operators, but enforcement remains sporadic and ineffective. In rural and peri-urban settlements, where hospitals are either too far or too expensive, desperate citizens are left at the mercy of these unlicensed providers.
Medical professionals have weighed in on Elizabeth’s case, emphasizing the dangers of intravenous treatment without professional oversight. “IV administration bypasses many of the body’s natural defenses and should only be carried out by licensed medical personnel under controlled environments,” said Dr. Ayodele Olatunji, a general physician based in Warri. “If given incorrectly or in the wrong dosage, it can lead to irreversible damage or death.”
Legal experts also stress that the government needs to move beyond arresting individual culprits to addressing systemic failures. “This is a case of gross negligence resulting in death,” said Barrister Ifeanyi Egwuatu, a human rights lawyer. “But the tragedy is that this is not the first, and it won’t be the last unless the system itself is reformed.”
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Delta State Chapter, has issued a statement expressing condolences to the Oyibode family and calling for a swift, transparent investigation. The association further urged the state government to commence immediate revalidation of all chemist shops and medical outlets operating within the state.
“This young woman’s life was stolen not only by the alleged quack who treated her but also by a system that continues to enable such individuals,” the statement read. “We urge the Delta State government to enforce existing regulations and ensure that only qualified personnel are allowed to render medical services to the public.”
Meanwhile, civil society organizations have begun mobilizing to demand justice for Elizabeth. The Delta Coalition for Health Equity (DCHE), a local advocacy group, is leading calls for a public inquest and comprehensive audit of all chemist shops in Uvwie and surrounding LGAs.
“This is a matter of life and death. Enough is enough,” said DCHE spokesperson, Ms. Rosemond Egbele. “We want to see the Delta State Ministry of Health hold itself accountable. There must be penalties not only for this individual but for any agency that failed to prevent this tragic death.”
As the police continue their investigation, the mood in Ekpan remains somber. Community members have gathered several times at Elizabeth’s family home, offering prayers and support. The young woman’s body is expected to be released for burial after the conclusion of a post-mortem examination.
For now, a child has lost a mother, a partner has lost a lover, and a community has lost yet another soul to the all-too-familiar menace of medical quackery.
The incident further highlights Nigeria’s ongoing healthcare crisis, in which infrastructural decay, poverty, and regulatory lapses intersect to create an environment ripe for exploitation. While the country boasts some of the most skilled medical professionals on the continent, access to these professionals remains a luxury for many.
As public attention grows around Elizabeth Oyibode’s case, health authorities, lawmakers, and civil society will face increasing pressure to not only deliver justice for her death but also take lasting steps to protect others from a similar fate. The case has become more than just a criminal investigation—it is now a symbol of systemic failure, one that must be addressed with urgency, compassion, and accountability.
Elizabeth’s story should not end in silence. It must serve as a wake-up call to reform a broken healthcare enforcement system and to finally reckon with the deadly consequences of neglect.
