Edith CHUKU
23-year-old Emmanuel Ode from Auta Balifi, Nasarawa State and 25-year-old David Idoko, were arrested alongside two doctors, for allegedly recruiting vulnerable youths, forging documents and facilitating illegal organ harvesting in Abuja and Nasarawa State.
The two doctors arrested were 48 years old Benjamin Onyime, a Nephrologist(Kidney Consultant) from Edo State, who is also a consultant to a renowned hospital in Abuja, and his colleague, 53-year-old Dr. Daniel Otukpa, from Benue State, also a Nephrologist and acting director of clinical services.
The Nigeria Police Force, through operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS), paraded the four suspects arrested in connection with an organ harvesting and human trafficking syndicate operating in Nasarawa State.
NPF spokesperson, Mr Ani Iniedu, revealed that “acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the STS carried out a sting operation on 19th August 2026 at about 18:00 hrs in Auta Balifi, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, which led to the arrest of the suspects. Clothes purchased with proceeds of the crime were recovered as exhibits during the operation.
“During interrogation, Emmanuel Ode confessed to recruiting victims under false pretenses. He disclosed that on 24th April 2026, he lured one Samuel Ezekiel, 22, to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja, where his kidney was allegedly harvested for the sum of $1,250 USD (One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty US Dollars), equivalent to ₦1,700,000.00 (One Million Seven Hundred Thousand Naira) at the current exchange rate.
“A second victim alleged that he was lured by the same agent in 2022 to a hospital where his kidney was harvested, for which he was paid the sum of ₦7,000,000.00 (Seven Million Naira).
“Investigations revealed that the suspects and their accomplices allegedly targeted vulnerable and uneducated young persons within Nasarawa State and its environs, exploiting their financial desperation to obtain consent for illegal organ harvesting.
“Evidence gathered indicates that the suspects forged official documents, including victims’ names, National Identification Numbers (NIN), birth certificates, age declarations, affidavits, and consent letters to facilitate these criminal activities.”
Further, NPF reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling human trafficking and organ harvesting networks across the country and protecting vulnerable citizens from exploitation.
The force assured that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects connected to the syndicate.
