The mother of 22‑year‑old Samuel Ezekiel has told journalists she had no knowledge that her son’s kidney had been removed until a stranger called to inform her, as police paraded four suspects including two nephrologists over an alleged organ‑harvesting network operating in Abuja and Nasarawa State.

Ezekiel’s kidney was allegedly harvested on April 24, 2026, at Wellington Hospital in Life Camp, Abuja. His mother said she was at her shop when she received the call. “I was in the shop one day, and someone called me to say they heard that my son’s kidney had been removed,” she told journalists on Friday.

She said she first contacted another of her sons, who initially said he knew nothing. “So, later, he told me that the junior one told him that Emmanuel took him to a hospital and then went and removed his kidney. So, that was how I went to the police station to report the matter”.

Ezekiel had earlier alleged that his friend, Emmanuel Ode, deceived him into going to the hospital under false pretences. Ode assured him that losing a kidney would not affect his health, according to the victim. Ezekiel also claimed his identity was changed to “Hassan Abubakar” and that an affidavit was prepared at the Federal High Court before the procedure.

Police alleged that Ode recruited Ezekiel and that the kidney was harvested for $1,250, equivalent to about N1.7‑million. The Nigeria Police Force paraded Ode, 23; Dr Benjamin Oyime, a 48‑year‑old nephrologist and consultant to Wellington Hospital; Dr Daniel Otukpa, a 53‑year‑old nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at the hospital; and David Idoko, 25.

Operatives of the Special Tactical Squad arrested the suspects on August 19 during a sting operation at Auta Balefi, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said Ode confessed to recruiting victims under false pretences.

Police investigators further alleged that the syndicate targeted vulnerable and uneducated young people, exploiting their financial difficulties, and that documents including victims’ names, National Identification Numbers, birth certificates and consent letters were forged.

Ezekiel said he received payment in US dollars and handed the money to Ode for safekeeping before entering the theatre. He alleged that Ode later changed the money and spent part of it on two phones, two power banks and two Wi‑Fi devices, giving him one of each. The victim spent about a week in hospital before being discharged.

Asked whether her son brought any money home, the mother replied: “No, no, no”.