A medical doctor simply identified as Dr. Ogbeide, has been confirmed dead in a mysterious circumstances, by the Edo State Police Command.

Dr. Ogbeide was of the Radiology Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

Some members of staff of the hospital who did not want to be named, said the doctor was kidnapped and murdered.

They also said the incident was cult-related. The UBTH management, however, said they were not aware if any doctor was kidnapped or not.

It was gathered that the victim returned to Benin from a trip on Saturday and was seen standing by the roadside in front of the hospital in Ugbowo, where he was said to have been whisked away in a car by unknown men.

The Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on phone.

“It is not a case of murder or kidnap. The doctor checked into an hotel on Saturday. He was not seen going out on Sunday, nor did anyone visit him, so, the door was forced open on Sunday.

“He was found lying face-down on the bed. The bed sheet was not even ruffled. There was also a bottle of soft drink in the room.

“There was no sign of struggle or anything on him. We are looking into a case of suicide or suffocation.

“We are waiting for the autopsy report from the hospital. and as a doctor, they are going to do a scan on the body,” Odumosu said.

Earlier when contacted for clarification, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the UBTH, Joshua Uwaila, said he was not aware whether the doctor was kidnapped or not.

“I don’t have that information, that a doctor was kidnapped,” he said.

It would be recalled that the UBTH has lost several doctors in recent past.