Police Arrest Two Nephrologists, Two Others Over Alleged Kidney-Harvesting Syndicate in Nasarawa
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and paraded four suspects, including two hospital nephrologists, over their alleged involvement in an organ-harvesting and human trafficking syndicate said to have operated in Nasarawa State and its surrounding communities.
According to a statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, operatives of the Force’s Special Tactical Squad (STS), led by ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, carried out a sting operation at around 6pm on August 19, 2026, in Auta Balifi, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, following what police described as credible intelligence regarding the syndicate’s activities. The suspects were formally paraded before journalists in Abuja on Thursday, August 28.
Police identified those arrested as Emmanuel Ode, 23, of Auta Balifi, Nasarawa State; Dr Benjamin Oyime, 48, of Edo State, a nephrologist and consultant at Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja; Dr Daniel Otukpa, 53, of Benue State, also a nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at the same hospital; and David Idoko, 25. Officers said clothing allegedly purchased using proceeds from the suspected criminal activities was recovered during the operation and retained as evidence.
According to police, preliminary investigations indicate that the alleged syndicate focused its recruitment efforts on vulnerable and largely uneducated young people within Nasarawa State and neighbouring communities, allegedly exploiting their financial difficulties to obtain consent for illegal organ-removal procedures. Police said the alleged recruitment process involved persuading victims to consent to organ removal without their being fully informed of the long-term implications of the procedure.
During interrogation, police said Ode confessed to recruiting victims for the syndicate under false pretences. According to the police account, Ode allegedly lured one victim, identified as 22-year-old Samuel Ezekiel, to Wellington Hospital on April 24, 2026, where one of his kidneys was allegedly harvested in exchange for approximately $1,250, equivalent to roughly ₦1.7 million at prevailing exchange rates. Investigators say they also identified a second alleged victim, who told police he was recruited by the same agent in 2022 and taken to a hospital, where one of his kidneys was allegedly harvested, for which he said he was paid ₦7 million.
Police further alleged that the suspects and their associates forged official documents, including victims’ names, National Identification Numbers, birth certificates, age declarations, affidavits and consent letters, in order to facilitate the procedures and, in some cases, conceal the identities of victims involved.
It is important to note that these remain allegations at this stage of the police investigation, and none of the claims outlined by police have yet been established or tested in a court of law. The suspects have not been convicted of any offence, and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. As of the time of reporting, it was not immediately clear what specific charges, if any, had been formally filed against the four suspects, and Wellington Hospital had not issued a public response to the allegations involving its staff. Police say investigations into the alleged syndicate’s activities remain ongoing.
About the Author
