Police Arrest 4 Over Alleged Human Trafficking, Kidney Harvesting In Nasarawa
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested four persons suspected to be members of a syndicate allegedly involved in human trafficking and the illegal harvesting of human organs in Nasarawa State.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) on August 19, 2026, during a sting operation in Auta Balifi, Karu Local Government Area of the state.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the operation followed intelligence on the alleged activities of the syndicate.
Those arrested were identified as 23-year-old Emmanuel Ode; Dr Benjamin Oyime, 48, a nephrologist at 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.
The police said Ode allegedly admitted recruiting victims through false representations.
Investigators quoted him as saying that on April 24, 2026, he lured a 22-year-old man, Samuel Ezekiel, to Wellington Hospital, where one of the victim’s kidneys was allegedly removed.
According to the police, Ezekiel was allegedly paid $1,250, estimated at about N1.7 million, following the procedure.
Another alleged victim reportedly told investigators that he was recruited by the same agent in 2022 and taken to a hospital, where one of his kidneys was allegedly removed after he was paid N7 million.
The Force said preliminary investigations showed that the syndicate allegedly targeted economically vulnerable young people in Nasarawa and neighbouring communities, exploiting their financial difficulties to obtain consent for illegal organ removal.
Police also alleged that the suspects falsified documents, including National Identification Numbers, birth certificates, age declarations, affidavits and consent letters, to facilitate the operations.
Items, including clothes allegedly bought with proceeds from the suspected criminal activities, were recovered during the operation.
The police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the alleged network.
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