Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, disclosed during a press briefing on Wednesday that the facility, named 'Mother and Child Hospital and Maternity,' located on a road along the Tansian University in Umunya, was operating under the guise of a hospital but was, in fact, a hub for child trafficking.

Dr. Obidike revealed, "We found that some hospitals that are not registered are operating in the state. We have created data that will capture the hospitals in the state so that people will be able to have quality, good healthcare."

During the inspection, it was discovered that the facility was not registered with the Anambra State Government. The commissioner highlighted the administration's commitment to addressing such issues and ensuring the safety of citizens.

The raid on February 7, 2024, resulted in the rescue of five pregnant girls, aged between 14 and 21 years. The commissioner expressed concern over the fraudulent activities suspected at the unregistered hospital, where seven nurses on duty fled upon the arrival of the security operatives.

"Unfortunately, the hospital is not registered, and activities are suspected to be very fraudulent. So, we decided to just see the senior doctor in the hospital and all the seven nurses. They locked us outside. Before they opened the gate, they followed the back and ran away. Seven to eight of them ran away. We saw little girls here that are pregnant, some of them ranging from 14, 15, 16, and 21 years,” Dr. Obidike explained.

The incident underscores the importance of vigilant efforts to combat illegal activities in the healthcare sector and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation. The government's commitment to establishing a comprehensive database of registered healthcare facilities aims to enhance the quality of healthcare services and prevent the operation of unscrupulous establishments.