Police arrest doctors, middleman in Nasarawa kidney harvesting ring

Four individuals stand accused of participating in an organ harvesting and human trafficking operation based in Nasarawa State, according to the Nigeria Police Force. Emmanuel Ode (23), Dr Benjamin Oyime (48), Dr Daniel Otukpa (53), and David Idoko (25) were apprehended during an August 19, 2026 raid by the Special Tactical Squad in Karu Local Government Area.

At the centre of the investigation is Samuel Ezekiel, a 22-year-old whose kidney was extracted at Wellington Hospital's Life Camp location in Abuja on April 24, 2026. Ezekiel recounts being deceived by his associate Ode, who presented him using the alias Hassan Abubakar and withheld information about where he was actually being transported.

The young man maintains he was unaware of his true destination throughout the ordeal. Following the procedure, Ezekiel obtained compensation denominated in US dollars, which he entrusted to Ode.

The latter allegedly exchanged this currency and purchased various electronic goods—including smartphones, portable chargers, and wireless connectivity devices—with the proceeds, depriving Ezekiel of his promised earnings. Ezekiel's parent learned of the incident only through an unsolicited call from a third party who possessed knowledge of her son's hospital admission.

She had received no advance notice regarding any medical intervention. Records maintained by law enforcement identify Oyime as holding the position of nephrologist and consultant attached to Wellington Hospital; Otukpa occupies the role of Acting Director of Clinical Services at that same hospital.

These apprehensions represent the culmination of prolonged inquiry into how the syndicate systematically exploited individuals rendered vulnerable by deceptive methods.