Korede Abdullah 
PORT-HARCOURT, Nigeria – The Port Harcourt doctor’s death has sparked renewed concern among healthcare professionals after the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State Branch, called for a thorough investigation into the death of Dr Stephen Vanman, whose body was found in Port Harcourt.
The association says the circumstances surrounding the young doctor’s death remain unclear and urges security agencies to identify those responsible and ensure they are prosecuted.
In a statement issued on Friday, NMA Rivers State Secretary, Dr Diamond Tonye-Obene, says the association’s State Officers Committee (SOC) becomes aware of Vanman’s disappearance after he reportedly leaves for duty at a private hospital.
According to the statement, the NMA leadership, led by Dr Prof. Ureh Oparaodu, immediately contacted the deceased’s relatives and roommates in an effort to trace his whereabouts.
The committee later accompanies the family to the Mini-Okoro Police Station in Rumuobiakani, where officers disclose that Vanman’s body had been discovered by police personnel at Market Junction along Aba Road on the morning of Sunday, August 9, 2026.
The body is subsequently deposited in a mortuary.
Reports indicate that the doctor had been unreachable since the previous Saturday night while travelling to Port Harcourt.
The association says the cause of death remains unknown and insists that a comprehensive investigation is necessary to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
The Port Harcourt doctor’s death has also renewed concerns about the safety and security of healthcare workers who often travel under difficult conditions while providing medical services.
About the Author
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Mirian Gom 