Rivers State Government Closes Six Health Facilities and Arrests Seven Suspects for Quackery and Child Trafficking

The Rivers State Ministry of Health announced that it has sealed six medical facilities operated by non‑professionals and allegedly involved in child trafficking.

Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said that seven people were arrested during the investigation and visits to the facilities.

Wachukwu explained that the action is part of the ministry’s ongoing anti‑quackery mandate, carried out in partnership with the state branch of the Nigerian Medical Association and other healthcare affiliate associations to combat quackery across Rivers State.

The permanent secretary noted that the effort aims to “sanitize the health system in Rivers State,” adding, “This fight has been going on for the past two years and some months, and we have made significant progress.”

He said, “We have seen many hospitals and diagnostic centers. We have also arrested some of the operators of these facilities, who are now under investigation and prosecution.”

Wachukwu described the fight against quackery as strenuous, stating, “As you fight, they fight back. It’s like corruption. You fight corruption, corruption fights back. That is what is happening in the health sector. But by God’s grace, with your (media) support, I believe we are winning the race.”

He added that the anti‑quackery committee has been working to identify and address unwholesome practitioners throughout the state, not just in Port Harcourt.

Regarding the sealed facilities, Wachukwu said, “We have gone from local government to local government outside Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor, sealing several health facilities. They are not sealed merely because they are unregistered, but because of their quack practices.”

“Some were identified by whistleblowers, others by neighbors who reported unwholesome activities to the ministry. When you investigate further, you find that most of these facilities are not run by trained or accredited medical practitioners.”

The sealed facilities include: PLARIV Hospital in Omoku, Good Shepherd Hospital (Omoku), Blessed Good News Clinic in Port Harcourt, Estate Clinic in Oklahoma Estate, Obio/Akpor, Patent Drug Shop in Ndele, Emohua, and Eldona Hospital, Elekahia in Obio/Akpor LGA.

It is worth recalling that police recently raided Eldona Hospital in Elekahia, arresting the proprietor and other workers for child trafficking and operating without registration.

During the briefing, Dr. Wachukwu revealed that a 20‑year‑old secondary school graduate died after receiving quack medication at the Patent Drug Shop in Emohua.

“We also visited one patent drug store in Ndele. This case is very serious because the operator is untrained, and a 20‑year‑old girl who had just finished secondary school and was awaiting admission became a victim,” he said. “The girl went in, thinking it was a medical place, and was injected with something that killed her. She died. When the report reached us, we sealed the place, arrested those present, but the operator was not on site. We asked the community to bring her. They have been calling, and we will not relent. We will ensure she is arrested and prosecuted for what she has done.”

The permanent secretary reiterated that any organization, hospital, cooperative body, NGO, religious body, or individual wishing to conduct free medical outreaches in the state must obtain permission and approval from the ministry beforehand.

He thanked his committee members, security agencies—especially the Nigerian Police and Civil Defence—and the media for their unwavering support in the fight against quackery in the state.