Nigeria: Police arrest man over alleged organ harvesting scheme
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
A 40-year-old man identified as Maro Ebojoh has been arrested in Lafia, Nasarawa State, after allegedly attempting to recruit people for illegal kidney harvesting.
Maro, who is said to be from the Ogbara Inland area in Delta State, was first apprehended by security personnel at the Sabo Motor Park in Lafia. They became suspicious of his activities and handed him over to the police for investigation.
According to the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Jauro, officers were immediately deployed once reports of the arrest reached the command. During questioning, Maro reportedly admitted to being involved in sourcing potential “donors” for kidney removal.
Police said three men had already been lured with the promise of being paid ₦2 million each in exchange for their kidneys. The victims—aged 20, 25, 27, and 32—were taken to a hospital in Abuja for medical evaluation to determine if they were “fit” for the transplant procedure. During the process, one victim’s blood pressure spiked, leading hospital staff to place him under observation. It was at that point that police intervened and rescued him.
Investigators said the suspect disclosed that his client agreed to pay ₦6.5 million for the kidneys, and that he had already received ₦500,000 as an advance for each victim. He also admitted that two months earlier, he had facilitated another kidney removal and paid the donor ₦2.5 million after the operation.
The Commissioner of Police cautioned the public against falling for financial offers that put their lives at risk. He expressed appreciation to the Inspector General of Police and the state governor for supporting ongoing efforts to safeguard residents.
He also addressed concerns about recent attacks in Sarkin Noma, noting that a joint team of police, civil defence personnel, and soldiers has been deployed to help stabilize the area. Residents were urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
