- Retired Cop With Liver Tumour Denied Treatment in Prison
- Aba prison officials refuse transfer to Enugu hospital despite doctor’s advice
- Accused of child trafficking, Blessing is yet to be granted bail
By Grateful Ogunjebe
A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Blessing Chinyere Okoro, is battling for her life in custody as prison authorities allegedly deny her urgent medical treatment.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the ailing woman, who once served the Nigerian Police Force, now faces child trafficking charges and is being held in an Aba correctional facility. But her family says she is dying slowly due to a lack of access to care.
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Medical documents obtained by SaharaReporters show Blessing suffers from a large tumour in her abdomen, believed to be cancerous. The report highlights possible cancer spread to her lymph nodes and colon.
In addition to the tumours, Blessing has a fatty liver, multiple gallstones, and kidney dysfunction. Doctors say fluid has also built up in her abdomen and pelvis signs of advanced illness.
“She’s dying slowly right in front of their eyes,” a family member lamented. “We are losing hope.”
She was initially referred to a hospital in Enugu for specialised care after doctors at the teaching hospital in Aba said her case was beyond their capacity. But prison officials reportedly blocked the transfer.
“The authorities said she could only get treatment if granted bail,” a source told SaharaReporters. “But the court has continued to deny her bail.”
Her condition worsened shortly after her arrest on 19 May, which the family says was violent. She had just undergone fibroid surgery before being picked up by officers.
According to relatives, she was assaulted during the arrest, aggravating her recovery and sparking severe abdominal complications that led to her hospital rejection.
The medical report paints a grim picture: a solid mass in the umbilical area, bowel obstruction, gallstones, hydronephrosis (kidney swelling), and liver enlargement.
The report also describes a “lobulated enhancing mass” measuring nearly 10cm in width, invading soft tissues and potentially blocking digestion.
Despite this, the only support she’s reportedly received is N60,000 from prison authorities far below the medical bills the family claims are nearing N1 million.
“She hasn’t even been found guilty,” a relative said. “Why deny her the right to stay alive?”
Blessing is also the founder of the Faith, Hope, and Charity Orphanage in Ogborhill, Aba, which the police allege was used for child trafficking. Her family denies the allegations, claiming she is being falsely accused and victimised.
This case has raised major human rights concerns, with family members and advocates calling for immediate intervention to save her life.
They argue that no person guilty or not should be left to die in custody without access to medical care.
