A former Chief Medical Director at Kaiama General Hospital in Kwara State, Nigeria, Dr. Abbas Adio Adeyemi Adebowale, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder, unlawful disposal of bodies, and organ trafficking. The case has sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s medical community, with many questioning how such horrific acts could occur under the watch of a major health institution.

According to authorities, Dr. Abbas allegedly buried human remains on the hospital grounds, including those of Nofisat Halidu, a woman who had been declared missing since November 2021. Further searches uncovered additional remains, some in shallow graves around the hospital. Police claim at least two of the victims were medical colleagues of the suspect.

Investigators have also uncovered evidence suggesting Dr. Abbas’s involvement in organ trafficking, alleging that he extracted organs from his victims and sold them through a black-market network. While the full scope of the operation is still under investigation, early findings point to a possible criminal syndicate with potential links to other practitioners.

Dr. Abbas was apprehended during a coordinated police operation after allegedly attempting to flee. He initially confessed to several crimes, including Halidu’s murder, but later partially recanted, claiming the confession was obtained under duress.

The case has raised serious concerns about oversight in Nigeria’s healthcare system, with advocacy groups and public health professionals calling for a full audit of the hospital and the state’s medical governance. “It is deeply troubling that such horrific acts could occur under the watch of a major health institution,” said Dr. Aminu Shehu of the Nigerian Medical Association. “There must be accountability and reform.”

The Kwara State Government has announced an independent investigation into the state’s healthcare facilities, while the Federal Ministry of Health has pledged to introduce stricter oversight of hospital operations and personnel management. Prosecutors are expected to seek the maximum penalty under Nigerian law.

As the community mourns, candlelight vigils have been held in memory of the victims. The Nigerian Police Force has urged anyone with information about other suspicious deaths linked to the hospital to come forward. “This case is not just about one man,” said Ifeoma Chikwe, Director of the Health and Justice Initiative. “It is a reckoning for our institutions, our systems, and our collective responsibility to protect life.”