The Kano State Ministry of Health has arrested several suspects accused of conducting an illegal medical outreach in Panshekara, Kumbotso Local Government Area, allegedly posing as healthcare providers while collecting money from residents.
The Punch reported that thoperation, carried out in collaboration with the Private Health Institutions Management Agency, the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, and the Kano State Police Command, was part of efforts to protect residents from unlicensed medical activities.
The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Nabilusi Abubakar, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the crackdown followed credible intelligence provided by members of the public about the unauthorised medical outreach.
“We acted immediately upon receiving the report. A joint team from the Ministry of Health, PHIMA, and KNCDC was deployed to the location, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
“We subsequently contacted the Kano State Police Command, and the suspects are currently in police custody at the Bompai Headquarters for further investigation,” the Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Yusuf, was quoted as saying.
The commissioner said the suspects were operating under the name Brother Paul Legacy Foundation, claiming to be a non-governmental organisation.
They allegedly distributed registration cards bearing the group’s name and collected money from unsuspecting residents while promising medical services.
Yusuf disclosed that preliminary investigations by officials of the Ministry of Health, PHIMA and KNCDC revealed that neither the alleged mastermind nor the other suspects possessed recognised medical qualifications or certifications.
He added that the registration cards, which carried an address in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, promised “free treatment” as a means of attracting unsuspecting victims.
The commissioner advised residents to avoid seeking treatment from unlicensed individuals or self-proclaimed healthcare providers, stressing that medical care should only be obtained from government-approved facilities and qualified health professionals.
Yusuf also praised the Kano State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Bakori, for its prompt response, and commended residents whose information led to the arrests.
He urged members of the public to continue reporting suspicious or illegal medical activities to relevant authorities, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to eliminating quackery and ensuring safe, ethical and professionally regulated healthcare services.
