Police Arrest Doctors, Two Others Over Alleged Kidney Harvesting Syndicate

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested four suspects, including two nephrologists, over an alleged human trafficking and organ harvesting syndicate operating in Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory.

The suspects were paraded by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) on Thursday, August 27, following their arrest during a sting operation in Auta Balifi, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday, saying the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of the alleged syndicate.

According to the police, operatives moved in at about 6pm on August 19 and arrested the suspects. Clothes allegedly bought with proceeds from the criminal activities were also recovered as exhibits.

Those arrested were Emmanuel Ode, 23; 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 David Idoko, 25.

Police investigations have linked the suspects to the alleged recruitment of vulnerable young people who were lured under false pretences and subsequently subjected to illegal organ harvesting.

The police said Ode admitted during interrogation to recruiting victims. According to the statement, he disclosed that he took a 22-year-old man, identified as Samuel Ezekiel, to Wellington Hospital on April 24, 2026, where the victim’s kidney was allegedly removed.

The police said Ode stated that he received $1,250, equivalent to about N1.7 million, in connection with the alleged procedure.

Investigators also received allegations from another victim who claimed that he was recruited by the same agent in 2022 and taken to a hospital where his kidney was allegedly harvested. He reportedly received N7 million.

Further investigations, according to the police, showed that the alleged syndicate targeted financially vulnerable and largely uneducated young people in Nasarawa and surrounding areas.

The suspects allegedly exploited the victims’ financial difficulties to obtain what was presented as consent for the removal of their organs.

The investigation also uncovered allegations of document forgery, with the suspects and their accomplices reportedly falsifying victims’ personal and official records to facilitate the operations.

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

The police said the investigation is continuing as efforts are being made to identify and arrest other members of the alleged network who are currently at large.

The Force reaffirmed its commitment to tackling human trafficking and organ harvesting while protecting vulnerable Nigerians from exploitation.

The police also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities linked to trafficking and illegal medical procedures to the appropriate authorities.