Three children have been found dead at the residence of a female native doctor, popularly known as “Ezenwanyi”, in Umuoduba Village, Ideani, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to Punch Newspapers, a fourth child was discovered unconscious alongside the victims and was rushed to hospital, where police said the child remains in critical condition.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, has left the community in shock as authorities work to determine how the children, believed to be between six and 15 years old, ended up at the property.
Residents said all four children were found unconscious inside the woman’s compound. Three were confirmed dead, while the surviving child was taken to hospital before emergency responders arrived. The identities of the children had not been established as of the time of reporting.
A resident, who spoke anonymously, said the suspect, who keeps livestock including pigs and poultry within the compound, was taken into custody by operatives of the Ogidi Divisional Police Headquarters with the support of community leaders.
Videos shared on social media showed police officers, community leaders, local security personnel and the President-General of Ideani Community inspecting the premises. The footage also showed the suspect leading investigators through different sections of the compound, including shrines and residential areas.
Confirming the incident, Anambra State Police Command spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga said officers attached to the Ogidi Division responded immediately after receiving a distress report.
He said the victims were rushed to hospital, where doctors confirmed three dead, while the fourth child remains in critical condition.
Ikenga added that the female suspect is in police custody and that the State Criminal Investigation Department has taken over the case for a thorough, intelligence-led and evidence-based investigation.
He said investigators hope the testimony of the surviving child, once medically fit, will help establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The police urged residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and allow investigators to complete their work. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
