A 22-year-old man, Samuel Ezekiel, has recounted how he was allegedly deceived by a friend and taken into an organ-trafficking network that resulted in the removal of his kidney at a hospital in Abuja.
Ezekiel’s account emerged after the Nigeria Police Force arrested four suspects over an alleged organ-harvesting and human-trafficking syndicate operating in Nasarawa State and Abuja.
The suspects are 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.
They were arrested by operatives of the Police Special Tactical Squad during a sting operation at Auta Balifi, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, on August 19, 2026.
According to the police, Ode allegedly confessed to recruiting victims under false pretences.
Investigators said he allegedly lured Ezekiel to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja, on April 24, where the young man’s kidney was allegedly removed.
Police said the alleged payment for the kidney was $1,250, equivalent to about ₦1.7 million at the exchange rate cited by the Force.
But Ezekiel’s account paints a more disturbing picture.
Speaking to journalists, he alleged that Ode, whom he described as his friend, deceived him into believing that they were going to the hospital for another purpose.
He said Ode linked him with another man identified as David, who eventually took him to an agent known as “Ben”.
According to Ezekiel, he underwent several medical tests before being told that his results did not initially match the intended recipient.
He alleged that he was subsequently taken to Cross River State, where he spent several weeks before eventually returning to Abuja.
Ezekiel further alleged that his identity was changed during the process and that he was made to sign documents under another name before the kidney removal.
His mother also told journalists that she was unaware that her son had undergone the procedure until she received a phone call informing her that his kidney had been removed.
The police said investigations uncovered another alleged victim who claimed that the same recruitment agent lured him to a hospital in 2022, where one of his kidneys was allegedly removed. The victim reportedly said he was paid ₦7 million.
Investigators further alleged that the syndicate targeted vulnerable and poorly educated young people in Nasarawa and neighbouring areas, exploiting their financial difficulties.
The Force also said suspected members of the network allegedly forged documents including National Identification Numbers, birth certificates, age declarations, affidavits and consent forms to facilitate the procedures.
However, Wellington Clinics has denied involvement in any illegal organ-trafficking arrangement.
The hospital said it merely provided medical facilities for the transplant and did not participate in, negotiate or benefit from any transaction between the donor and recipient.
It said the donor was admitted under the name Abubakar Hassan and that the kidney was subsequently transplanted into a patient suffering from end-stage kidney failure.
The hospital said it was cooperating with investigators and suspended its renal-transplant services pending the conclusion of the police investigation.
The police have said investigations are continuing, with efforts underway to apprehend other suspects allegedly connected to the network.
This version keeps the most dramatic human element—the victim’s account—at the centre, while carefully separating police allegations, the victim’s claims and the hospital’s response.
If you upload the actual video, I can also produce the full word-for-word transcript of the police parade/interviews and then expand this story with the strongest direct statements from the video.
A 22-year-old man, Samuel Ezekiel, has recounted how he was allegedly deceived by a friend and taken into an organ-trafficking network that resulted in the removal of his kidney at a hospital in Abuja.
Ezekiel’s account emerged after the Nigeria Police Force arrested four suspects over an alleged organ-harvesting and human-trafficking syndicate operating in Nasarawa State and Abuja.
The suspects are 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.
They were arrested by operatives of the Police Special Tactical Squad during a sting operation at Auta Balifi, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, on August 19, 2026.
According to the police, Ode allegedly confessed to recruiting victims under false pretences.
Investigators said he allegedly lured Ezekiel to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja, on April 24, where the young man’s kidney was allegedly removed.
Police said the alleged payment for the kidney was $1,250, equivalent to about ₦1.7 million at the exchange rate cited by the Force.
But Ezekiel’s account paints a more disturbing picture.
Speaking to journalists, he alleged that Ode, whom he described as his friend, deceived him into believing that they were going to the hospital for another purpose.
He said Ode linked him with another man identified as David, who eventually took him to an agent known as “Ben”.
According to Ezekiel, he underwent several medical tests before being told that his results did not initially match the intended recipient.
He alleged that he was subsequently taken to Cross River State, where he spent several weeks before eventually returning to Abuja.
Ezekiel further alleged that his identity was changed during the process and that he was made to sign documents under another name before the kidney removal.
His mother also told journalists that she was unaware that her son had undergone the procedure until she received a phone call informing her that his kidney had been removed.
The police said investigations uncovered another alleged victim who claimed that the same recruitment agent lured him to a hospital in 2022, where one of his kidneys was allegedly removed. The victim reportedly said he was paid ₦7 million.
Investigators further alleged that the syndicate targeted vulnerable and poorly educated young people in Nasarawa and neighbouring areas, exploiting their financial difficulties.
The Force also said suspected members of the network allegedly forged documents including National Identification Numbers, birth certificates, age declarations, affidavits and consent forms to facilitate the procedures.
However, Wellington Clinics has denied involvement in any illegal organ-trafficking arrangement.
The hospital said it merely provided medical facilities for the transplant and did not participate in, negotiate or benefit from any transaction between the donor and recipient.
It said the donor was admitted under the name Abubakar Hassan and that the kidney was subsequently transplanted into a patient suffering from end-stage kidney failure.
The hospital said it was cooperating with investigators and suspended its renal-transplant services pending the conclusion of the police investigation.
The police have said investigations are continuing, with efforts underway to apprehend other suspects allegedly connected to the network.
