The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it has dismantled a syndicate disguising as missionaries and free healthcare providers, distributing fake and unregistered drugs in the Abuloma area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, the Director, South-South Zone of NAFDAC, Chukwuma Oligbu, said the operation followed a tip-off from concerned citizens about suspicious activities at a community town hall.
Oligbu stated, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has uncovered the activities of some unscrupulous elements posing as missionaries/free health caregivers at the Community Town Hall Abuloma, Port Harcourt Local Government Area.”
He explained that the individuals used evangelism as a front to distribute dangerous substances under the guise of treating various medical conditions.
“The discovery followed a tip-off by a public-spirited individual that some fake health caregivers using evangelism as a cover are giving unsuspecting members of the public fake/unregistered eye drops, bottled water, cleansers, tablets etc.”
He listed the products as: “Evangelist Jenkins Supernatural Water, Evangelist Jenkins Cleanser, and Evangelist Jenkins eyes drop.”
“These products are purported to treat goitre, cancer, pile, arthritis, rashes, fibroids, cataracts and glaucoma. The list is limitless,” he added.
Oligbu disclosed that adverse effects had already been reported, especially among those who used the eye drops.
“It was gathered that some persons who used the eyes drop got their eyes swollen while the fake doctor who is on the run would assure them that the swollen eye was a sign that the drug was working while assuring them that the impurities in their eyes would be washed out as mucus and liquid come out of their eyes.”
The agency’s team, led by the State Coordinator Emmanuel Onogwu, raided the venue and arrested a suspect, Mrs. Gladys Theophilus, while she was administering the fake drugs.
“When the NAFDAC team led by the State Coordinator, Emmanuel Onogwu, stormed the town hall located at Jetty Road, Abuloma, they met a woman administering their fake drugs to some persons waiting in turns. The middle-aged woman, Mrs Gladys Theophilus, who was attending to unsuspecting victims, was arrested while the fake doctor claimed to be outside the state when he was contacted on the phone.”
All the counterfeit products were confiscated and taken to NAFDAC’s Zonal Office at Woji Road, GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt, for further investigation.
On the fate of the arrested suspect, Oligbu said, “She will be charged to court while efforts are on to apprehend other members of the syndicate, now at large.”
He also issued a public warning: “I hereby warn the general public to beware of these unscrupulous elements claiming to be evangelists and selling concoctions in the name of medicine to unsuspecting members of the public. Their products are not registered or verified by any government body. Anybody patronising them is doing so at their peril.”
Reaffirming NAFDAC’s position, he added, “We (NAFDAC) continuously pledge our commitment to safeguarding the health of the nation.”
