By Chuks Eke
Anambra state government and the people of Nkpologwu community in Aguata local government area of Anambra State have debunked the news making the rounds that four babies were stolen from a hospital in the town on Thursday by unknown gunmen.
In the same vein, Anambra State Police Command has equally dismissed the information as mere rumour.
Mainstream and online media went agog on Thursday, that four babies were abducted from certain National Medical Center, a hospital in Nkpologwu, in the late hours of Wednesday. The information generated tension and concern across the state.
But the Anambra police command, in a statement by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, said that the command was not aware of any such incident, where four babies were stolen from any hospital in the state – not even in Nkpologwu.
The statement urged the general public to discountenance the information, and go about their normal businesses.
Also in a swift reaction, the President-General of Nkpologwu Progressive Union, NPU, Dr. Ferdinand Ezeiruka, described the news as a fallacy that has no basis.
According to the PG, “Such thing did not happen in my community. Nkpologwu is a small town; any such thing that happens will spread quickly. So, it did not happen”.
Continuing, Ezeiruka declared: “Nkpologwu is a peaceful town; this kind of rumoured development does not happen here. The Medical Director of the said hospital is my friend. There is no way such a thing would happen without him relaying the information to me”.
He expressed concentrated that people could wake up in the morning, fabricate a story, and spread it on the media without verifying the authenticity of such story.
When this paper contacted the Chief Medical Director of the National Medical Center, Nkpologwu, Dr. Stanley Izuehie, he also debunked the rumour; and described it as the handwork of mischief makers, who do not wish Nkpologwu community and the society well.
He, however, said that an incident happened two weeks ago when robbers came to the hospital, and were snatching handsets from patients. He said that the rubbers quickly ran away when they sighted security operatives advancing towards the hospital.
“This information making waves that armed robbers stormed National Medical Center and took four babies is unfounded, untrue, and malicious,” he said.
The state government had earlier stated that no such attack took place in Anambra State, neither any baby or babies were abducted.
In a statement from the state Commissioner for Informatiion, Chief Paul Nwosu the state government described the allegation as mere fictitions, sponsored through dishonest and unethical reporters to create fear among Ndi Anambra, but they will not succeed as Government has ensured there is enough boots on ground to protect our people this Yuletide.
In the statement entitled: “there was no gunmen attack anywhere in Anambra state”, Nwosu stated: “Anybody that dares government resolve to ensure a peaceful season will only have himself to blame”.
