A 52-year-old medical doctor, Emmanuel Chimaobi Ugwumba, has been apprehended by the Enugu State Police Command for his involvement in suspected child trafficking and the forgery of medical certificates. The arrest took place on September 28, 2024, following an investigation led by the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad of the command.
According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the investigation was triggered by a suspicious public notice regarding an abandoned child. The notice, which was endorsed under the name of the Enugu State Ministry of Gender and Social Development, was published in the Daily Sun Newspaper on September 27, 2024. Ugwumba, posing as the director of OTZ, was behind the publication.
Ndukwe stated, “Upon arrest, Dr. Ugwumba was found to be involved in child trafficking activities, with a pregnant woman and two female children—one aged four and another aged two—rescued during the operation.”
Further investigations revealed that Ugwumba, who claimed to be a graduate of medicine and surgery from the University of Jos, owned and operated Chima Hospital and Maternity in Ugbaike, Enugu-Ezike, located in the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area. Between 2017 and 2024, he allegedly conspired with an unnamed staff member of the Ministry and other accomplices to conduct prenatal care and delivery of seven children, whose whereabouts remain unknown, from different mothers at his facility.
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Additionally, law enforcement found several unauthorized documents in Ugwumba’s possession. These included forged materials from the Ministry of Gender Affairs and unverified pest control certificates from the Enugu State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, further raising concerns about the doctor’s illicit activities.
The police have intensified their investigation to track down Ugwumba’s co-conspirators and locate the missing children. The case also highlights broader issues surrounding fraudulent medical practices and child trafficking, sparking a call for increased vigilance and action against these crimes in Nigeria.
Authorities are urging the public to provide any information that could aid in the arrest of other individuals involved in this child trafficking ring. Dr. Ugwumba is expected to face serious legal consequences as investigations continue to unfold.