The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a group in Rivers State allegedly distributing suspected counterfeit drugs to the public under the pretext of evangelism. The announcement was made on Monday by NAFDAC’s South-South Zonal Director, Chukwuma Oligbu, during a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
According to Oligbu, NAFDAC operatives tracked the group to Abuloma Community Town Hall, where one member was arrested while administering a suspected fake drug to a member of the public. The agency seized several products, including unregistered eye drops, bottled water, cleansers, and tablets, which were evacuated to NAFDAC’s office for further investigation and documentation. The products included items branded as Evangelist Jenkins Supernatural Water, Evangelist Jenkins Cleanser, and Evangelist Jenkins Eye Drop.
Oligbu revealed that the group, posing as an evangelical outfit, claimed their products could treat ailments such as goiter, cancer, piles, arthritis, rashes, fibroids, cataracts, and glaucoma. However, he noted that the products lacked critical information, including ingredient lists, NAFDAC registration numbers, manufacturer details, and expiry dates. Some users of the eye drops have reported adverse effects, such as swollen eyes, which the group falsely claimed was a sign of the drug’s effectiveness.
“They deceived people into buying these products, charging no less than N5,000 per item while claiming to offer free medical treatment,” Oligbu stated. He added that the group issued consultancy cards to victims as part of their scheme.
NAFDAC has warned the public against purchasing or using unverified medical products and vowed to continue its crackdown on illegal drug distribution to protect public health. Further investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the group’s activities and the safety of the seized products.
