The Nigeria Police Force has paraded four suspects, including two medical doctors, over their alleged involvement in an organ harvesting and human trafficking syndicate operating in Nasarawa State.
The suspects, identified as Emmanuel Ode, 23; Dr Benjamin Oyime, 48, a nephrologist and consultant at Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja; Dr Daniel Otukpa, 53, also a nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at the hospital; and David Idoko, 25, were arrested during a sting operation conducted by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad on August 19, 2026, 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, saying preliminary investigations had uncovered disturbing allegations about the activities of the syndicate and the methods allegedly used to recruit vulnerable victims.
According to the police, one of the suspects, Ode, allegedly confessed during interrogation to recruiting victims under false pretences and connecting them with individuals involved in kidney harvesting.
The police alleged that on April 24, 2026, Ode lured a 22-year-old man, identified as Samuel Ezekiel, to Wellington Hospital in Life Camp, Abuja, where his kidney was allegedly harvested. The police said the victim was reportedly paid $1,250, equivalent to about N1.7 million at the prevailing exchange rate.
The police further alleged that another victim was similarly recruited by the same agent in 2022 and taken to a hospital where his kidney was allegedly harvested. The victim was reportedly paid N7 million following the procedure.
The Force said its investigation indicated that the alleged syndicate targeted vulnerable and largely uneducated young people in Nasarawa State and neighbouring areas, exploiting their financial difficulties to obtain consent for illegal organ harvesting.
The police also alleged that the suspects and their accomplices forged several official documents to facilitate the operations. These documents reportedly included victims’ names, National Identification Numbers, birth certificates, age declarations, affidavits and consent letters.
During the operation, police operatives also recovered clothes allegedly purchased with proceeds from the criminal activities, which were taken as exhibits as investigations continued.
The Force said it was still working to identify and arrest other members of the alleged syndicate, stressing that the investigation had not been concluded.
The development has raised fresh concerns over the vulnerability of economically disadvantaged Nigerians to criminal networks involved in human trafficking and illegal organ trade.
The allegations also come amid recent public attention to suspected kidney trafficking in communities around Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory. Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, had recently drawn attention to the issue after a young man reportedly approached his non-governmental organisation with a medical report indicating that he was missing a kidney.
The activist alleged that the man had been paid following the procedure and that attempts were subsequently made to alter his identity through affidavits. He also alleged that other vulnerable young people around Nyanya, Mararaba and surrounding communities had been targeted by agents and medical practitioners.
However, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command separately cautioned the public against unverified claims that widespread kidney selling was taking place in the affected communities. The command said it had neither received nor confirmed reports supporting some of the viral allegations and urged members of the public to disregard unverified publications capable of creating fear and panic.
The FCT police nevertheless encouraged anyone with credible information about suspected organ trafficking to report to the nearest police station or the command.
For the Nigeria Police Force, the latest arrests underscore its stated determination to dismantle networks involved in human trafficking and illegal organ harvesting and to protect vulnerable citizens from exploitation.
As investigations continue, the police are expected to establish the full extent of the alleged activities, identify other individuals connected to the network and determine the specific roles played by each suspect.
The suspects remain entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
