Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has announced the arrest of a doctor in Abuja in connection with an alleged illegal kidney harvesting and trafficking network.
The development followed the case of a young man, Ezekiel Samuel, who reportedly discovered that his left kidney was missing after visiting a hospital in Abuja.
Medical examinations at two facilities, including a government hospital in Jabi, reportedly confirmed the absence of the kidney.
According to VDM’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, the investigation has expanded beyond Samuel’s case, with allegations that more than 10 young Nigerians may have been victims of an organised kidney-harvesting operation involving medical practitioners and agents.
Abubakar, speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday, alleged that some vulnerable youths were lured to medical facilities under various pretexts and subsequently had their kidneys removed without informed consent.
He further alleged that some of the harvested kidneys were sold for between N50 million and N70 million, while victims received only a fraction of the proceeds.
The lawyer said investigations had led to police action, including the arrest of suspects linked to the alleged operation. He stressed that legitimate organ donation requires informed consent and should not involve financial inducement.
The case initially came to public attention after Samuel approached VDM’s office on August 18, 2026, seeking assistance over his missing kidney. VDM subsequently arranged independent medical examinations, which reportedly confirmed that his left kidney was absent.
VDM had earlier claimed that police arrested Samuel’s friend, whom he alleged had lured him to the hospital. He further claimed that the friend himself was missing a kidney and had allegedly sold it for N7 million.
The allegations have sparked widespread concern over patient safety, medical ethics and the possible existence of an illegal organ-trafficking network in Abuja and surrounding communities.
Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidney removals and determine the roles, if any, of the arrested doctor and other suspects. The allegations remain subject to investigation and official confirmation.