Police Arrest Suspected Organ-Harvesting Recruiter, Rescue Four Victims in Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a man suspected of involvement in an organ-harvesting scheme and rescued four alleged victims in Lafia. Commissioner of Police Shettima Muhammad disclosed the development on Tuesday while briefing journalists.
According to Muhammad, the suspect, Maro Ebojoh, 40, from Etiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, was apprehended on Monday at the Alhaji Yahaya Sabo Motor Park in Bukan Sidi, Lafia, after motor park officials raised an alarm. Officers from ‘B’ Division promptly moved to the scene and took him into custody.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Ebojoh had travelled to Lafia to allegedly recruit organ donors for an immediate kidney transplant. He reportedly lured the victims with a promise of ₦2 million each.
The rescued victims were identified as:
- Umar Barau, 25
- Suleiman Alhaji-Garba, 20
- Williams Dadung, 32
- Stanley Ezekiel, 27
The Police Commissioner said the suspect had already taken the victims to a hospital for medical evaluation. One of them, who passed the screening, was moved to Abuja for the transplant; however, the procedure was halted due to high blood pressure concerns.
“Operatives of the command swiftly moved to Abuja and rescued the victim unhurt from a hotel where he was being lodged,” Muhammad said.
Ebojoh has reportedly confessed to the crime, stating that he agreed to receive ₦6.5 million from his client for the kidney procurement and had already collected ₦500,000. He also admitted to facilitating another illegal organ donation two months earlier, earning ₦1 million, while the donor was paid ₦2.5 million.
Muhammad said investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
In a separate operation, the command also arrested nine suspects linked to a series of armed robberies and the killing of a police officer’s son in Karu Local Government Area.
The arrests followed a raid on Nov. 4 at Musbawu Street, Mararaba, where operatives attached to Mararaba ‘A’ Division apprehended the young suspects, aged between 18 and 29. Investigations revealed they had carried out multiple nighttime robberies, stealing mobile phones, transferring money from victims’ bank accounts, and selling stolen devices.
“The suspects confessed to attacking and killing the son of a serving police officer during a robbery operation at Uke on May 20,” Muhammad stated.
He added that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lafia, and the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
The CP urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals, especially those posing as agents for organ donation recruitment.
“Say something when you see something,” he advised.
