AWKA — A 47-year-old woman has been arrested in Anambra State for allegedly running an illegal surgical facility where she performed caesarean sections and other major operations without any formal medical qualifications, health officials have confirmed.
Mrs Onyinyechi Esther Charles was apprehended at her Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) facility in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area, following an inspection led by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, on Sunday, 12th July 2026.
The Commissioner, who was accompanied by the Council Chairman, Hon. Ifeanyi Chinweze, and security personnel, said investigations revealed that Charles had been carrying out caesarean sections, normal vaginal deliveries, and other surgical procedures for years without possessing the relevant qualifications or a valid licence.
“I can confirm that Mrs Charles has been arrested after it was established that she was performing surgical operations, including caesarean sections, without any form of medical training or authorisation,” Dr Obidike stated.
The facility has been sealed, with medical and surgical instruments recovered during the operation.
Dr Obidike warned residents against seeking care from unlicensed facilities or unqualified persons, stressing that such practices endanger lives.
“The Anambra State Ministry of Health is determined to arrest and eliminate all illegal medical practices in order to protect the lives of our people,” he added.
The Commissioner confirmed that Charles would be charged to court for prosecution.
Hon. Chinweze, the Council Chairman, called on residents to report suspected illegal health facilities for immediate action and to desist from patronising such establishments.
The arrest forms part of the state government’s ongoing crackdown on unregulated medical practices, which health authorities have described as a growing danger to public safety in rural communities.
