Three children found dead in Anambra native doctor's home

A woman known as a native doctor, called “Ezenwanyi” by locals, has been arrested after the bodies of three children were found at her house in Umuoduba Village, Ideani, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The Anambra State Police Command confirmed that four children were found unconscious on Wednesday. Doctors later confirmed that three were dead, while the fourth child is in critical condition and getting treatment.

The details of what happened are still unclear.

Residents said the discovery, made early on Wednesday, caused panic in the community. One eyewitness explained, “Four children were found unconscious in the woman’s house. While three of them were already lifeless at that time, the fourth, who was still breathing, was rushed to the hospital for help.

“The children, aged between six and 15 years, have not been identified, and the reasons for their deaths are still unknown. The incident has shocked the community.

The woman, who also raises pigs and poultry, was taken into custody by police from the Ogidi Divisional Police Headquarters along with local leaders. The bodies of the dead children were taken to a mortuary.

Videos on social media show the Divisional Police Officer of the Ogidi Division with community leaders, local security, and the President-General of Ideani inspecting the woman’s home after the incident.

In the videos, the woman guided the security team through various parts of the compound, including shrines and living areas, while residents looked on from a distance.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer for Anambra State, confirmed the incident in a statement. He said the suspect is in custody and the State Criminal Investigation Department will handle the case.

“The Anambra State Police Command, today, August 5, expressed sadness over the discovery of four unconscious children in Umuoduba Village, Ideani, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“Upon receiving the information, a rescue team from Ogidi Police Station rushed the victims to a hospital for emergency care. Sadly, three of the children were confirmed dead by doctors, while the fourth child is still getting treatment in critical condition.

“Because of this, the command confirms that a female suspect is in police custody related to the incident. The State Criminal Investigation Department will take over the case and carry out a thorough, professional investigation based on evidence.

“Police are hopeful that, once the survivor recovers and is cleared by doctors, their testimony will help figure out what happened and support other necessary investigations. The bodies of the deceased children are in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”

Ikenga sent the command’s condolences to the families of the deceased and expressed sympathy for the Ideani community after this event. He also urged the public to stay calm and avoid spreading unverified information while waiting for investigators to complete their work.

“Further updates will be shared as the investigation continues,” the statement said.