Former Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike took to his Instagram page on October 21, 2026, to call out the Imo State Police Command and the State Waste Management Agency over the alleged invasion of Emenike Hospital.
He alleged that on September 25, the DPO of Owerri Urban Division and officers from the Oji Police Station first assaulted his staff. During that initial incident, hospital workers were reportedly manhandled on the premises while patients were present. That was not the end of it.
A second raid occurred on Wednesday, October 21, involving both police and waste management officials who aggressively arrested and hauled away the hospital’s administrator and cashier. Emenike described the second incident as more disruptive than the first, with officials entering the facility during working hours and removing staff in front of patients seeking treatment.
The officials, on separate occasions, invaded the hospital facility in Owerri, assaulted staff and patients, and took away the hospital administrator and cashier. No official reason for the arrests was given publicly, and no written order or warrant was presented to hospital management, according to Emenike’s account.
Emenike demanded an immediate investigation by the Imo State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, and relevant oversight authorities and called for the unconditional release of his detained staff, who he said were brutalized at the Oji Police Station; preservation of CCTV footage as evidence; and medical care for those injured during the raids.
The development came days after the footballer criticized the government over alleged corruption and embezzlement of public funds, though no verified evidence has established a connection between his criticism and the reported attack.
Emenike had condemned some state governors over alleged mismanagement of public funds, describing Nigeria as an “embezzlement ground.” His Instagram posts on that subject drew wide attention before the raids became public, with several of his posts attracting tens of thousands of views and significant engagement from Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora.
He accused some governors of having no clear plans for the future of their states and focusing instead on diverting public money and also took aim at security personnel, alleging that they continue to support political office holders despite struggling with economic hardship themselves.
Emenike, who was part of Nigeria’s squad that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, said his decision to establish the hospital was driven by a desire to give back to his community and address healthcare access gaps in Imo State.
In posts following the October 21 raid, the former striker said the attacks contradicted that intention entirely. “Imo State deserves investment. Its people deserve safety. And every hospital should remain a place of care and hope,” he said.
He demanded that the Imo State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, and relevant oversight bodies identify all parties involved, secure the release of the detained workers, and ensure injured persons received proper care.
Neither the Imo State Police Command nor the State Waste Management Agency had responded publicly to the allegations as of the time of this report. The Imo State Government had also not issued a statement on the incident.
Emenike called for the protection and support of the hospital community, stressing that patients and healthcare workers should feel safe at all times and that repeated disruptions of that kind risked deterring residents from seeking medical attention. He did not say whether the facility had since resumed normal operations.
Emenike, a member of Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team, said he established the hospital to give back to his community and provide residents with access to medical care. The Emenike Hospital is based in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and has served the surrounding area since it opened.
