Police Bust Organ Harvesting Syndicate in Nasarawa: Two Doctors, Two Others Arrested

The Nigeria Police Force has paraded four suspects, including two consultant nephrologists, over their alleged involvement in an illegal kidney harvesting syndicate operating in Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory. The suspects allegedly exploited vulnerable and unemployed young Nigerians, luring them with cash payments before removing their kidneys in unregulated procedures. Operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) arrested the suspects on August 19, 2026, during a sting operation in Auta Balifi, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, following credible intelligence on the activities of the syndicate. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, paraded the suspects on Thursday and confirmed that clothes allegedly purchased with proceeds from the crime were recovered as exhibits.

The police identified the four suspects as Emmanuel Ode, a 23-year-old from Nasarawa State who served as the alleged recruiter and lured victims under false pretences; Dr. Benjamin Oyime, a 48-year-old nephrologist and consultant to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja, from Edo State; Dr. Daniel Otukpa, a 53-year-old nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at Wellington Hospital, from Benue State; and David Idoko, a 25-year-old alleged accomplice. Both doctors are nephrologists — kidney specialists — who were allegedly complicit in the illegal removal of organs at Wellington Hospital in Life Camp, Abuja.

According to police investigations, the syndicate targeted young, financially desperate and less-educated individuals in Nasarawa State and surrounding communities. The alleged recruiter, Emmanuel Ode, reportedly confessed during interrogation to luring victims under false pretences and taking them to Wellington Hospital for the illegal procedures. Two victims have so far been identified. The first, Samuel Ezekiel, aged 22, was allegedly lured by Ode on April 24, 2026, to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja, where his kidney was harvested. He was paid $1,250, approximately ₦1.7 million, for the procedure. The second victim, David Idoko, aged 25, was allegedly lured by the same agent in 2022 to a hospital where his kidney was harvested, and he was paid ₦7,000,000.

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Investigators uncovered evidence that the suspects forged official documents to facilitate the illegal operations, including victims’ names, National Identification Numbers (NIN) , birth certificates, age declarations, affidavits, and consent letters. The police said the suspects exploited the victims’ financial desperation to obtain what was presented as “consent” for the procedures, despite the obvious irregularities.

The police action followed public alerts and a petition from the Vincent Ose Initiative, an organisation associated with social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan. According to VeryDarkMan’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, the case came to light after a young man approached the activist’s NGO with a medical report indicating his left kidney was missing. The lawyer further alleged that the victim was given about $1,300 after the procedure to “shut up,” that more than 10 young Nigerians may have fallen victim to similar illegal kidney harvesting networks, that organs were allegedly sold to recipients for between ₦50 million and ₦70 million while donors received only a fraction, and that some hospitals allegedly used agents to approach young men in financial difficulty. The lawyer stressed that while organ transplantation is not illegal in Nigeria, the law requires informed consent from an adult person with no financial inducement — requirements allegedly violated in these cases.

The arrests have fuelled viral social media reports alleging widespread kidney sales among young people in Nyanya, Mararaba, Karu and neighbouring communities. However, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, through its spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh, stated that it had neither received nor confirmed any report of such widespread activity. The command urged the public to disregard unverified publications to avoid creating fear and panic, while calling on anyone with credible information to report to the nearest police station.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling human trafficking and organ harvesting networks across the country and protecting vulnerable citizens from exploitation. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate. This case highlights the growing threat of illegal organ trafficking in Nigeria, where financially vulnerable young people are being exploited by syndicates involving medical professionals. It also underscores the role of citizen activism in bringing such crimes to public attention and prompting law enforcement action.

Police Bust Organ Harvesting Syndicate in Nasarawa: Two Doctors, Two Others Arrested

Two-year-old rescued as police uncover alleged N15m staged kidnapping plot

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested several suspects over an alleged staged kidnapping involving a two-year-old child in Plateau State and rescued the child after investigators uncovered a ransom scheme allegedly involving people known to the family.

The arrests were made by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) during an intelligence-led investigation into kidnapping and other criminal activities.

In the case involving the child, police identified a 34-year-old suspect, Nansik Wuyep Sule, who was arrested over the reported abduction of two-year-old Rito Jesse Davou.

According to the police, preliminary investigations indicated that the alleged kidnapping may have been deliberately staged to create the impression that the child had been abducted by unknown criminals.

Investigators alleged that Sule worked with the child’s biological mother, Catherine Davou, as part of the scheme.

Police said the alleged plan initially involved a N7 million ransom demand, which was later increased to N15 million.

As investigators intensified their efforts to locate the child, they reportedly discovered information indicating that the two-year-old was being kept at Sule’s residence.

Another suspect, Luka Emmanuel Butdam, was also arrested over allegations that he made ransom-related calls to the child’s grandmother.

Police operatives subsequently located the child and rescued him safely.

The rescued child was reportedly given medical attention before being reunited with his biological father.

The investigation is continuing as police seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged staged abduction and determine whether other individuals were involved.

The case highlights the complexities investigators can face in kidnapping investigations, particularly where alleged ransom demands are made by individuals who may have prior knowledge of the victim or family.

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Police investigate separate kidnapping and robbery cases

In a separate investigation, the IRT also arrested Idris Mohammed, popularly known as Yellow, and Mohammed Bello Adams over their alleged involvement in kidnapping and armed robbery.

According to the police, the suspects allegedly targeted a commercial driver, Idris Zakari Baba, after arranging for him to transport Mohammed from Abuja to Zaria.

Investigators alleged that the driver was intercepted by armed men after picking up Mohammed and was taken into the bush, where he was held until a N3 million ransom was reportedly paid.

The victim’s 2012 Toyota Corolla was later traced to Bauchi State and recovered while Mohammed was allegedly attempting to sell the vehicle.

Further investigation allegedly linked the suspects to another kidnapping case involving Pastor David Dahni and his driver, Abdullahi Abubakar.

Police said a ransom of approximately N10.5 million was reportedly paid in connection with that incident.

The Force said investigations into the cases remain ongoing, with operatives working to identify other suspects and establish the full extent of the alleged criminal activities.

The latest arrests form part of ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to disrupt kidnapping networks, investigate ransom-related offences and recover property allegedly taken during criminal operations.

Police have continued to encourage members of the public to provide credible information that could help security agencies prevent kidnappings and identify suspected criminal networks.

The suspects remain under investigation, and allegations against them have not been finally determined by a court. Any prosecution will be subject to the outcome of the investigation and the decision of the relevant prosecuting authorities.

Two-year-old rescued as police uncover alleged N15m staged kidnapping plot

EFCC secures jail terms for two fraudsters as Lagos court orders asset forfeiture

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced two men, Agboola Abdullahi Abiodun and Victor Okonjo, for offences involving money laundering, cybercrime and fraudulent impersonation.

The convictions were secured by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice F.N. Ogazi.

The two men were separately arraigned before the court and pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.

Abiodun faced a three-count charge bordering on money laundering and related offences. One of the allegations involved disguising proceeds from a dating scam through the purchase of a black Toyota Venza.

The offence was prosecuted under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, with the prosecution alleging that Abiodun dealt with proceeds linked to unlawful activity in a manner intended to conceal their origin.

Okonjo was separately arraigned on a two-count charge involving cybercrime and fraudulent impersonation.

One of the counts alleged that Okonjo fraudulently impersonated Aaron Bauer, identified in the charge as a male citizen of the United States, with the intention of obtaining an advantage for himself.

The allegation was brought under provisions of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.

After the charges were read to the defendants, both men entered guilty pleas before the court.

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Following their pleas, EFCC prosecutor F.B. Orilade reviewed the facts of the cases and presented the prosecution’s evidence. He subsequently urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants according to the law.

Justice Ogazi, after considering the facts presented before the court and the defendants’ pleas, convicted both men and imposed separate sentences.

Abiodun was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on count one, while he received one year each on counts two and three.

Okonjo, meanwhile, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with an option of a ₦500,000 fine on count one and four years’ imprisonment on count two.

The court ordered that the sentences should run concurrently, meaning the terms would not be added together to create separate consecutive prison periods.

The sentences were also ordered to take effect from the dates of the defendants’ arrests.

In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered the forfeiture of the convicts’ mobile phones, laptops and vehicles.

The items listed in the forfeiture order include a Toyota Venza and a 2020 Mercedes-Benz.

Justice Ogazi directed that the forfeited assets should be sold and that the proceeds should be used to compensate the victims of the offences where the victims can be identified and traced.

Where the victims cannot be traced, the court ordered that the proceeds from the sale of the assets should be paid into the coffers of the Federal Government.

The judgment underscores the financial consequences that can accompany convictions for online fraud, money laundering and fraudulent impersonation, particularly where proceeds of alleged criminal activity are converted into valuable assets.

In Abiodun’s case, the prosecution linked the alleged laundering offence to proceeds from a dating scam and the purchase of a Toyota Venza.

Okonjo’s conviction, meanwhile, centred on the alleged fraudulent use of another person’s identity for personal advantage.

The case is also part of the broader efforts by the EFCC to prosecute suspected internet fraud and financial crime cases and recover assets linked to criminal offences.

With the court’s orders, the forfeited vehicles and electronic devices are to be disposed of in accordance with the judgment, with priority given to compensating identifiable victims.

The convictions bring the proceedings against the two defendants at the trial court to a close, subject to any further legal steps available to them under Nigerian law.

EFCC secures jail terms for two fraudsters as Lagos court orders asset forfeiture