A fake medical doctor who parades himself as an ophthalmologist has been arrested by the Police for allegedly administering a mixture of unapproved substances to hundreds of people in Itu LGA of Akwa Ibom State.
The areas where he allegedly carried out the illegal operations are Ikot Akpan Itam, Ikot Abasi Itam, and Nung Ikot Itam in Itu LGA.
DSP Timfon John, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Akwa Ibom State Police Command, disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday, August 2025.
According to the PPRO, Operatives of the Command on Thursday, August 14, 2025, received a tip at approximately 12:05 PM from a concerned citizen regarding a man who was reportedly treating eye defects with unapproved substances.
With the information, the Police moved in to apprehend the suspect, identified as Gabriel Gideon from Nsit Ubium LGA.
The PPRO said Gideon, who confessed to not being a qualified ophthalmologist, had allegedly assembled over 300 people in each village, charging them ₦500 to administer a concoction of olive oil, juice, and water as a cure for various eye conditions.
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Meanwhile, a medical team from the Ministry of Health, Akwa Ibom State confirmed the nature of the unapproved substances.
The press release read, “A fake medical doctor who parades himself as an ophthalmologist has been arrested for allegedly administering a mixture of unapproved substances to hundreds of people in Ikot Akpan Itam, Ikot Abasi Itam, and Nung Ikot Itam in Itu LGA.
“On Thursday, August 14, 2025, at approximately 12:05 PM, Operatives of the Command received a tip from a concerned citizen regarding a man who was reportedly treating eye defects with unapproved substances. The suspect, identified as Gabriel Gideon from Nsit Ubium, was apprehended.
“Gideon confessed to not being a qualified ophthalmologist. He allegedly assembled over 300 people in each village, charging them ₦500 to administer a concoction of olive oil, juice, and water as a cure for various eye conditions.”
The PPRO stated that the investigation into the matter is ongoing.
