The Enugu State Police Command has arrested and charged a medical doctor, Emmanuel Ugwumba, 52, with alleged involvement in child trafficking and forgery.
Ugwumba, a native of Ezimo-Agu in Udenu Local Council, was apprehended on September 28, 2024, by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad.
Police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe stated that the arrest followed the discovery of a public notice published by Dr Ugwumba on September 27, 2024, concerning an abandoned child.
Investigations revealed that Ugwumba, who claimed to be a graduate of the University of Jos, operates Chima Hospital and Maternity in Ugbaike, Enugu-Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Council.
“The arrest followed the interception of a public notice about an abandoned child, which he authored and endorsed in the name of the Enugu State Ministry of Gender and Social Development, falsely claiming to be the director of OTZ,” Ndukwe explained. The notice was published in the Daily Sun Newspaper on September 27, 2024.
Upon his arrest, a pregnant woman, the four-year-old child mentioned in the public notice, and another two-year-old girl were rescued.
“Investigations revealed that between 2017 and 2024, Ugwumba conspired with an alleged staff member of the Ministry and others still at large to conduct antenatal care and deliver seven children, who have yet to be traced, from different mothers at the hospital,” Ndukwe said.
“The suspect was also found to be in unauthorised possession of various documents from the Ministry of Gender Affairs and unverified pest/vector certificates from the Enugu State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources.”
Ugwumba has been arraigned in court and remanded in custody pending further hearing. Ndukwe assured the public that investigations are ongoing to bring all those involved in the alleged crimes to justice.
