In a shocking revelation, doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners now discard their professional practice for booming illicit child trafficking business
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
In a relentless and dogged fight against child trafficking, the Rivers State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough as it uncovers a hospital where medical practitioners engage in a seemingly booming child trafficking business in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
According to the police on June 13, 2026 operatives of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) stormed the facility after receiving intelligence about crime being committed in the facility.
The police say some mothers had come forward to express doubts over the hospital’s claims that the babies they delivered at the facility passed away.
The police then sent in undercover officers who were able to expose the crime being committed in the facility. According to the police, babies delivered at the hospital were secretly taken away and trafficked, where the mothers were deceived into believing that their newborn babies died during childbirth.
Tentacle gathered that during the raid at the hospital, a bucket with an embalmed baby was discovered in the Medical Director, 66-year-old, Elizabeth Obot’s office. The police say the embalmed dead child is presented to mothers as their dead babies.
Investigations showed that the dead baby was also rented to other trafficking networks or any woman who may want to use a dead child to deceive her family.
When interrogated the embattled medical director of Eldona hospital Port Harcourt, Dr Elizabeth Obot said: “I charge a person who wants to buy a child ₦3 million, if the person pays the social mother will get her ₦2.5 million while the difference is what I use for logistics. The dead child is actually a product of miscarriage. The husband was not around and when we called him and told him we needed to sell the baby, he said okay and asked us to go ahead. I charged him some money, and he paid, but somehow, I did not dispose of the baby.”
She mentioned that the dead baby was used to help women with fake pregnancies who are being pressured by their family to give them a child. Dr Obot said such women stage a fake pregnancy, and when it is time to deliver, they pretend they lost the baby and present the dead child to their partners.
She denied any wrongdoing. According to her, she has only been helping desperate women seeking the fruit of the womb. She said the women who come to her to sell their babies do so voluntarily.
One of the suspects, Uffiong Ubong Anthony revealed that she is not a professional nurse but only learnt how to serve as an auxiliary nurse by studying the activities of nurses in a private hospital. She said, she has served as an untrained nurse for 21 years.
The police have asked anyone who had a still birth in the facility to come forward to help with the investigation. The police advised women to always ensure they have a relative inside the delivery ward to monitor their child after delivery. The police also advised pregnant women to always ensure that their delivery wards have protectors in the window.
According to the police, investigations have shown that delivery wards without windows help the criminal minded hospital staff easily steal babies from their rooms.
Just of recent, residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital woke up to a rude shock after police confirmed the arrest and prosecution of a medical doctor, who was accused of killing a 20-year-old pregnant young woman and selling her foetus.
Tentacle gathered that the young woman went missing after visiting the doctor’s clinic at Igwuruta, a suburb of Port Harcourt. Days later, investigations revealed that she was killed by the owner of the Clinic, identified as Dr. Happiness Iheukwumere, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Hagi Clinic and her newborn baby allegedly sold.
This is not the first time such disturbing news has come from Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria. In past years, cases of baby factories, illegal child trafficking and unlawful medical practices have made headlines.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 31-year-old medical doctor, a traditional birth attendant, and two individuals (all names withheld) accused of conspiring to sell a newborn baby for ₦2.5 million.
Police said the case was initially reported at Area G Command, Ogba, and was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba on June 1, 2026 for further investigation into allegations of conspiracy, stealing and child trafficking.
According to police sources, the baby’s mother (name withheld) aged 28 and her boyfriend allegedly decided not to keep the child and sought individuals who could facilitate its sale after birth. The pregnant woman was first taken to a traditional birth attendant for delivery.
Due to complications during labour, she was referred to a private hospital operated by a medical doctor, where she underwent a cesarean section. Both mother and child survived the procedure.
Shortly after the delivery, arrangements were allegedly made to an unidentified buyer for ₦2.5 million and the baby was subsequently handed over to the buyer who remains at large.
Investigators said the baby’s mother initially consented to the arrangement but later raised concerns after allegedly receiving ₦700,000 of the agreed ₦2.5 million. The matter came to light after she reported the unpaid balance, prompting involvement from non-governmental organizations and Police report.
Police identified one of the principal suspects as a 31-year-old medical doctor who had been in practice for about four years. Another woman, allegedly to have facilitated the transaction, as well as the buyer of the baby is currently being sought by investigators.
During a raid on residence linked to the suspects, police reportedly found three young girls, two of whom were pregnant. The discovery raised suspicion of an organized criminal scheme leading to further arrests. The command added that suspects already in custody will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
In the same vein, a child trafficker named Mrs. Grace Alkinjide Johnson, vice president of Catholic Women Organization (CWO) at St John Catholic Church, Gboko, Diocese, Benue state, a retired nurse, a widow who runs a pharmacy and child trafficking is in police custody. It has been alleged that she is involved in child trafficking and the illegal sale of children to other countries.
Tentacle gathered that she was caught with an infant baby and four children in a hidden apartment in her residence in Gboko. Reports said she was caught four years ago before her retirement but spend a lot of money to get away with the crime and yet she has refused to stop. Many hope she does not get away this time because only God knows how many children she must have sold out already.
Following the incidents, some concern Nigerians are calling for stricter monitoring of hospitals, clinics and health centres to prevent an escalation of the ugly trend. “It is sad that people we trust with our health can turn into monsters, the government must act fast” a resident in Port Harcourt said.
Meanwhile, a major crackdown on illegal healthcare practices in Rivers State has uncovered alarming allegations of child trafficking, unlicensed medical operations, unauthorized surgeries and training of unqualified healthcare personnel, raising serious concerns about patient safety and healthcare regulation.
Speaking on the operation, Chairman of state Anti-Quackery Committee and Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu alleged that facilities involved in child trafficking activities, represent serious violations of medical ethics, reproductive rights, child protection laws and public trust in healthcare institutions.
As investigations continue, the Rivers State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to prosecuting offenders and dismantling illegal healthcare operations that place lives at risk.
Healthcare professionals have urged members of the public to verify the registration status of health care facilities, seek care from licensed practitioners, and promptly report suspected cases of medical quackery to relevant authorities.
