From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
A septuagenarian, Mr Mathias Korinjo, has died of an alleged heart attack following the unlawful detention of his son, Dr James Korinjo, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Daily Sun learnt that the deceased’s son, Dr Konrinjo, a medical doctor with Medicines De Monde (MDM), at the GTS Clinic Damboa Local Government Area (LGA), Borno State, was detained since March 2024, after he uncovered fraudulent medical malpractices in the clinic where he is the medical doctor/team lead.
A statement from the family said when he raised concerns for the safety and welfare of the indigenous people in the community, who access the medical services, it did not sit well with the organisation.
The statement read: “Dr. Terseer has since been in the maximum police detention facilities from the Borno State Police Criminal Investigation Department (State CID) to the Crack Unit of the Borno State CID from the 18th day of March till date.”
Speaking to Daily Sun on telephone, yesterday, the victim’s elder brother, Engr. Martins Korinjo, said his father, a 72-year-old chartered accountant by profession, was heartbroken and could no longer take the torture. He died at an undisclosed hospital in Makurdi, Benue State.
“The prolonged detention of Dr. James triggered his BP. He was admitted and managed by his personal physician, only for him to have cardiac arrest this morning, which led to his demise.
Since he heard the news, he hadn’t been himself and finally, today, he couldn’t make it. I kept telling him that everything was under control, but he said it was getting to a month. He kept asking so many questions like what did his son do that they are holding him. Is he alive or have they killed him? But I assured him that his son is alive.
“I told him that when my mum gets to the crack unit, today, I will get him to speak with his son, Dr James, so he would believe that he is still alive. I spoke to the NMA in Bornu and he told me he will take up the matter today. I have also sent the petition to the security agencies,” he said.
He lamented that while his brother was still in detention, the company went and gave him a letter that they were inviting him to a disciplinary committee.
“This was after they gave him a suspension letter while he was still in detention. This organisation my brother works for has not contacted us the family members over this matter till date. So it’s like their plan is to make sure that my brother is being killed and then they cook up a story and tell us.”
He called on the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the Inspector General of Police, and the NMA Chairman in Borno to look into the matter and ensure the release of his brother.