The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and paraded four suspects, including two doctors with Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja, over allegations of kidney harvesting in Nasarawa State.
The suspects are Emmanuel Ode, 23; Dr Benjamin Oyime, 48, a nephrologist and consultant to Wellington Hospital; Dr Daniel Otukpa, 53, also a nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at the hospital; and David Idoko, 25.
They were arrested by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad during a sting operation on August 19, 2026, at Auta Balifi in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, saying Ode allegedly confessed during interrogation to recruiting victims under false pretences.
“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, equivalent to ₦1,700,000.00 at the current exchange rate,” the statement read.
According to the police, a second victim alleged he was lured by the same agent in 2022 to a hospital where his kidney was harvested, for which he was paid ₦7,000,000.00.
The police said the suspects exploited the victims’ financial difficulties to obtain consent for illegal organ harvesting, targeting vulnerable and uneducated young persons within Nasarawa State and its environs.
“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,” Iniedu said.
The police added that clothes allegedly purchased with proceeds of the crime were recovered as exhibits during the operation, while investigations continue to apprehend other suspects linked to the syndicate.
The Force reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling human trafficking and organ harvesting networks across the country and protecting vulnerable citizens from exploitation.
It would be recalled that social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, had earlier investigated a kidney harvesting allegation against the hospital, after a young man approached his NGO with a medical report showing he was missing a left kidney. The man was allegedly paid after the procedure, with attempts reportedly made to alter his identity through affidavits.
