health馃嚦馃嚞 Nigeria
Mother learns of son's alleged kidney removal via phone call
The mother of Samuel Ezekiel, 22, stated she learned her son's kidney was allegedly removed after receiving a phone call from someone who heard about the procedure. She was unaware he had been taken to a hospital in Abuja where the alleged removal occurred on April 24, 2026. Ezekiel had previously told journalists that his friend, Emmanuel Ode, deceived him into going to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja, under false pretenses, where his kidney was allegedly harvested. Ezekiel claimed Ode assured him the removal would not affect his health and that his identity was changed to "Hassan Abubakar" with an affidavit prepared before the procedure. Police later alleged Ode recruited Ezekiel, and his kidney was harvested for $1,250, equivalent to about N1.7m. The Nigeria Police Force paraded Ode, two doctors Dr. Benjamin Oyime, a 48-year-old nephrologist, and Dr. Daniel Otukpa, a 53-year-old nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at Wellington Hospital, and another suspect, David Idoko, 25, in connection with an alleged organ-harvesting and human-trafficking syndicate. The suspects were arrested on August 19 in Nasarawa State. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, stated Ode allegedly confessed to recruiting victims under false pretenses, targeting vulnerable and uneducated young people by exploiting their financial difficulties. Investigators also alleged that official documents were forged to facilitate the procedures. Ezekiel's mother reported the matt
