Rivers seals hospital over child trafficking claims

The Rivers State Government has sealed Manda Hospital in Elelenwo.Obio/Akpor Local Government Area following allegations of child trafficking. The decision was made after a task force, supported by security operatives, conducted an enforcement operation targeting suspected child trafficking rackets. According to Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the hospital was found to be operating without registration and without licensed medical practitioners.

The operation also led to the shutdown of 20 other health facilities across the state for allegedly operating below minimum standards and without registration. Only about 20% of the 150 monitored facilities complied with mandatory annual inspections and certificate renewals.