A report of misplaced cause of death of undergraduate, is causing apprehension at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Ugbowo in Benin City, Edo State, amid speculations of wrong prescription.

It was alleged that the student in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Boubouwei Andrew Perez, died in the early hours of Tuesday January 24th 2023 as a result of negligence on the part of health workers at UBTH.

The student, according to sources, was taken to the facility recently and diagnosed of undisclosed ailment, by his Course mates but, he was allegedly abandoned to his own fate.

Unconfirmed report also said he hospital Management had initially insisted a deposit be made before the commencement of treatment on Boubouwei who was the Director of sports in the University.

It was learnt that when the news of his death broke on Ugbowo Campus in UNIBEN, students of the institution mobilized themselves and stormed UBTH to demand explanation from the hospital Management over the unfortunate incident.

But, upon arrival at the UBTH reception, they were directed by a security officer to wait that that the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Darlington Obaseki was in a meeting at the hospital’s Administrative Block.

It was also learnt that after waiting barely 30 minutes without any reasonable response, students numbering over 100, went to inquire and discovered that Prof. Obaseki has escaped from his office, ostensibly to avoid been lynched.

Consequently, the angry students who chanted solidarity songs, threw caution to the wind and processed to the inner entrance of the hospital and lock up the gate, causing pandemonium.

The tension caused by the blockade on Ugbowo Express, according to witnesses, forced health workers and patients at the hospital, commuters and pedestrians scampered for safety, while the students the death of Boubouwei.

The intervention of concerned individuals and security personnel, however prevented the protest from being hijacked by hoodlums.

One of the students who gave his name as Ebenezer, told our Correspondent that they decided to vent their spleen after the Management ignored calls for dialogue.

According to Ebenezer who expressed shock over the circumstances that led to the death of the student, said, “The CMD should have waited. I thought he said that he is strong man.

“They (UBTH Management) knew what would have happened, he was smuggled through the back door”, Ebenezer alleged that a similar incident involving UNIBEN student and the hospital happened few months ago.

Hospital sources which hinted that autopsy has been conducted on late Boubouwei and sympathized his grieving family who may likely seek redress in court.

The source, ruled out any act of negligence on the part of the medical personnel as alleged by some of the students, while appealing to them to be calm not to make the already bad situation worse.

“Autopsy has been conducted. But the result has not been made public”, he wondered why there is less emphasis on the underlying ailment the late student had.

But some male students can be heard shouting ‘they want to kill use as security personnel clashed with the protesting students and fired cannisters which was captured in a footage that was shared by a Facebook user, Chidera Ighodaro.

TheNewspad reports that the standoff led to a chaotic traffic on the Road for several hours, while tempers flared over the business activities that were temporarily in the locality.

Contacted, the Public Relations officer of UBTH, Joshua Uwaila, confirmed the incident, but did not give details.

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