A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Blessing Chinyere Okoro, currently facing allegations of running an unapproved orphanage, has been diagnosed with a serious liver condition. This development follows claims by her family that she was assaulted and tortured while in police custody.
According to a medical report obtained by Chronicles Reporters, Okoro is suffering from multiple intra-abdominal tumors with signs of metastasis and partial intestinal blockage. The report notes: “Kindly take over for evaluation and management of the above-named patient, a prisoner who presented with multiple hard intra-abdominal tumors with features of metastasis and partial intestinal obstruction. CT-Scan result is attached.”
The findings also reveal a Grade 3 right hydronephrosis with impaired renal excretion. Her liver, although retaining its normal outline, appears significantly enlarged at 19cm, with signs of fatty infiltration. Though no direct lesions were spotted, further abnormalities were found in other organs.
The gallbladder reportedly contains multiple oval hyperdense masses, one measuring 17 x 18mm. However, there was no wall thickening or biliary duct enlargement. Other parts of the report describe her spleen as normal, with no apparent issues in the pancreas.
Notably, her right kidney is slightly enlarged and shows delayed contrast uptake, suggesting impaired function. In contrast, the left kidney appears healthy, with efficient contrast processing.
A concerning discovery in the scan is a lobulated, solid mass in the umbilical region, extending into nearby tissues. The mass measures approximately 7.6 x 9.9 x 12cm. The scan also notes thickening of the ascending colon and multiple swollen peritoneal lymph nodes, as well as fluid accumulation in her abdominal cavity.
Previously, Chronicles Reporters revealed that Okoro’s health had deteriorated in detention, and her family alleged that police brutality was to blame. The former policewoman is currently being held at the Nigerian Correctional Service in Aba, Abia State.
Family sources, who asked not to be named, claimed Okoro developed severe abdominal complications after being reportedly beaten by officers. Her condition worsened shortly after her arrest and subsequent remand.
She was arrested on May 19 over allegations of child trafficking, a charge her relatives strongly refute. They insist she was targeted unjustly and that her health challenges were ignored.
“She had just undergone fibroid surgery days before the arrest. The beating worsened her condition, and she became very sick after she was taken to prison,” a family source told Chronicles Reporters.
As her health deteriorated, prison authorities rushed her to a teaching hospital in Aba. However, medical personnel there declined to admit her, citing the severity of her case and requesting further scans. The hospital eventually referred her case to a facility in Enugu.
Background
Earlier in May, Chronicles Reporters had published details of Okoro’s arrest and detention. The retired officer is the founder of Faith, Hope, and Charity Orphanage in Ogborhill, Aba. Her family had accused the Abia State Police Command of detaining her unjustly and attempting to extort money under the guise of a child trafficking investigation.
They said despite undergoing recent surgery, police officers denied her access to proper medical attention and continued to hold her without due regard for her deteriorating health.
Police Reaction
In response to the family’s accusations, the Abia State Police Command claimed that Okoro was involved in child trafficking and was operating an illegal orphanage. Police spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, confirmed that officers arrested Okoro and her husband, Sunday Emebo, after receiving credible intelligence.
“On 19/05/2025 at about 11:45hrs, detectives from Abia State Police Command, leveraging credible intelligence, apprehended one Blessing Emebo ‘f’ 49yrs and Sunday Emebo, ‘m’ 42yrs for operating an unregistered motherless babies’ home in their apartment at Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba,” the police statement read.
Twelve children aged between six months and fourteen years were reportedly rescued during the operation. The children were said to be from various communities in Arochukwu and were handed over to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs for protection.
The police further stated that investigations were still ongoing and that the suspects were being questioned at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Umuahia. They are expected to be formally charged in court once the investigation is concluded.
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