The Enugu State Police Command has arrested and arraigned a medical doctor over alleged involvement in child trafficking and forgery.

The 52-year-old suspect, whose name was given as Dr. Emmanuel Ugwumba, a native of Ezimo-Agu in Udenu Local Government Area, was apprehended on September 28, 2024, by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, who made this known in a statement on Thursday, said that Dr Ugwumba’s arrest followed the discovery of a public notice he published on September 27, 2024, regarding an abandoned child.

According to Ndukwe, 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 Government Area.

In a statement he signed and released on Thursday, Ndukwe said that the arrest of the suspect “followed the interception of a public notice on an abandoned child he made, endorsed in the name of the Enugu State Ministry of Gender and Social Development as the director of OTZ, and published in the Daily Sun Newspaper of September 27, 2024.”

He said that upon receipt of the advert, operatives serving in the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, on September 28, 2024, arrested Ugwumba.

“Upon his arrest, he was found to be involved in child trafficking, with one pregnant woman, the four-year-old publicised child, and another two-year-old child, both female, being rescued.

“Investigation revealed that the suspect, who claimed to be a graduate of medicine and surgery from the University of Jos, owns and manages Chima Hospital and Maternity located at Ugbaike, Enugu-Ezike, in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.

“It was further discovered that between 2017 and 2024, he conspired with an acclaimed staff of the ministry and others at large to conduct antenatal care and delivery of seven yet-to-be-traced children from different mothers in the hospital.

“The suspect was also found to be in unauthorised possession of different documents from the Ministry of Gender Affairs and unverified pest/vector certificates from the Enugu State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources,” he said.

He said the suspect had been arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centre, pending further hearing.

Ndukwe assured the public that investigations are ongoing to bring all those involved to justice.