Hoodlums shoot UUTH union leader

Saviour Ekpe

The chairman, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Mr Anietie Samuel has been shot in his house in Uyo.

Samuel, a medical laboratory scientist, specialises in medical microbiology and is rounding off his tenure as COVID-19 caused the shifting of the election date to February 2021 according to a source.

A source said the bandits invaded his residence in the early hours of Thursday January 28, shot him with several rounds of bullets on his legs at a close range and was rushed to the Accidents and Emergency Department of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital around 4 am.

The source said the union leader is responding to treatment.

Trying to unravel the possible cause of the attack on Samuel, another union leader in the UUTH alleged that the attack on Samuel may not be unconnected with the union money that has not been accounted for by the chairman.

Speaking to the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the UUTH, Dr EmemAbasi Bassey, said he visited the union leader in the ward, noting that he is being attended to by professionals.

The CMD added that the cause of the attack has yet to be known, but he attributed the incident to the community in which he lives.

The Head of Department (HOD), Accidents and Emergency of the hospital, Dr Ibiok Usendia, in his reaction, said the blood lost due to the gun shot has been replaced through transfusion, adding that the victim is in a stable condition.

He said: “Samuel is in a stable condition and that is why you were able to talk with him.”

Responding, Samuel who was receiving treatment in the Accidents and Emergency Department of the UUTH thanked God for surviving such a cruel incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon he could not comment on the incident since he has not received a report on it.