Two Nephrologists, Two Others Arrested Over Alleged Kidney-Harvesting Syndicate in Nasarawa

PpThe Nigeria Police Force has arrested and paraded two medical doctors and two other suspects over their alleged involvement in a human trafficking and illegal organ-harvesting syndicate operating in Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory.

The suspects, according to the police, are 23-year-old Emmanuel Ode; Dr Benjamin Oyime, 48, a nephrologist and consultant to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja; Dr Daniel Otukpa, 53, also a nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at the hospital; and 25-year-old David Idoko.

They were arrested on August 19, 2026, by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad during a sting operation at Auta Balifi in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the police, Ode allegedly admitted during interrogation that he recruited victims by promising them financial assistance before they were taken to medical facilities for kidney removal.

The police quoted him as saying that on April 24, 2026, he lured a 22-year-old man identified as Samuel Ezekiel to Wellington Hospital in Life Camp, Abuja, where the victim’s kidney was allegedly harvested.

The operation, according to the statement, was allegedly carried out in exchange for $1,250, said by the police to be equivalent to about N1.7 million at the prevailing exchange rate.

The police further alleged that a second victim was recruited by the same agent in 2022 and subsequently underwent kidney removal, for which he was allegedly paid N7 million.

The Force said preliminary investigations indicated that members of the syndicate allegedly targeted vulnerable young people, particularly those experiencing severe financial difficulties, in Nasarawa and neighbouring communities.

The suspects allegedly exploited the victims’ desperation to obtain what the police described as consent for illegal organ harvesting.

Police investigators also alleged that the syndicate forged documents used to facilitate the procedures and conceal the identities of victims.

Among the documents allegedly forged were National Identification Numbers, birth certificates, age declarations, affidavits and consent letters.

Clothes allegedly bought with proceeds from the criminal activities were also recovered as exhibits during the operation, the police said.

The Force said investigations were continuing, with efforts underway to identify and arrest other individuals allegedly linked to the network.

The latest development comes amid growing public concern over allegations of illegal kidney harvesting and trafficking involving vulnerable Nigerians.

The issue recently attracted widespread attention following claims by social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who said a young man approached his organisation with a medical report showing that he was missing a kidney.

Otse alleged that the man had been paid following the procedure and that attempts were subsequently made to alter his identity through affidavits.

He also raised allegations concerning the recruitment of vulnerable young people in parts of Abuja and Nasarawa, including Nyanya and Mararaba, for alleged kidney harvesting.

However, amid the circulation of social media claims that large numbers of residents in Nyanya, Mararaba, Karu and surrounding communities had sold their kidneys, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command said it had neither received nor confirmed reports of such widespread activity.

The FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, urged the public to disregard unverified reports capable of causing fear and panic, while encouraging anyone with credible information about suspected organ trafficking to report to the police.

The Nigeria Police Force, meanwhile, said it remained committed to dismantling networks involved in human trafficking and illegal organ harvesting and protecting vulnerable Nigerians from exploitation.

The four suspects remain under investigation, and the allegations against them have yet to be determined by a court.