Metro

NAPTIP Arrests Suspect For Alleged Organ Harvesting In A’Ibom

Published

9 months ago

January 11, 2025

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has arrested one suspect in connection with organ harvesting in Akwa Ibom State.

The agency has also secured over 60 convictions with over 15 cases still pending determination in courts.

The State Zonal Coordinator of NAPTIP, Mr Emmanuel Awhen, disclosed this in Uyo, the state capital on Saturday while fielding questions from journalists during a media briefing to mark the 2025 National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, with the theme “Strengthening Communities by Connecting the Dots.”

The briefing was organised by the state Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, in collaboration with NAPTIP and the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour.

Awhen, who was represented by the Head of Public Enlightenment of the agency, Eme Ukpabio, said, “We have had arrests, I cannot count, the arrest that we do, we bring them to the office and when we realise that most of these cases are not really human trafficking cases, we send them away. The ones that are arrested and put in our centres and charged to court are many. We have had over 60 convictions, between last year and this year we had over five convictions.

“The arrest we had on organ harvesting, the person involved is not an Akwa Ibomite. So when we have such a case, we refer to the mother state where the suspect comes from. Our own is just do the job and do a referral to the command that covers the person’s state where justice will take its course.”

The zonal coordinator who noted that organ harvesting has become a booming trade in the state, disclosed that some clinics and hospitals in the state are engaged in the organ harvesting business.

He added, “Organ harvesting is one thing that is very high now. You may not notice it, but some clinics in this town, with due apologies to doctors who are carrying out legitimate businesses, there are hospitals in this town that are involved in organ harvesting.”

In his remarks, the state Coordinator of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, Ambassador Peace Edem, who highlighted the emotional and psychological dangers of human trafficking, called for continuous sensitisation of communities against the dangers.

He said, “Different forms of human trafficking have been mentioned– sex trafficking, labour trafficking, organ trafficking and others. The dangers associated with these dangers first, are the physical danger, violence and abuse, forced labour and the rest of them, then the emotional and psychological dangers.

“So, we need to also sensitise our communities against these dangers because some of them innocently go into it without knowing.”

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Eno Akpan had, in her remarks, lauded the collaborative efforts of NAPTIP and NACTAL in the fight against human trafficking in the state. She commended the state governor, Umo Eno, for establishing the ministry, which she noted, is saddled with the responsibility of improving the dignity of humans.

Metro

BREAKING: Bodies Of 8 Missing Policemen Recovered In Benue

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Lifeless bodies of the eight policemen who were declared missing after a deadly attack on security operatives at Agu Centre, on the border of Katsina-Ala and Ukum LGAs of Benue State, have been recovered.

Dr Justin Shaku, Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA disclosed this to reporters in Makurdi on Monday.

According to him, “this brings the number of officers killed to 11 (10 policemen and one BSCPG)”.

The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday, when a team of security operatives came under the attack of armed invaders.

Three personnel were immediately confirmed dead while eight others were declared missing.

Metro

Police Arrest Three Kidnappers Over ₦6.9m Ransom, Victim’s Murder

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed one of their victims after collecting N6.9 million ransom.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday.

Iringe-Koko identified the suspects as Hassan Mohammed (20) of Wandigah Town, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar (25) of Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed (23) of Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.

She said the arrests followed an investigation into the abduction of Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali.

According to the PPRO, the suspects also kidnapped one Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, at the same location, where they also collected a ransom of N3,500,000 before releasing her.

The statement read, “On 26th August, 2025, the Rivers State Police Command received a distressing report, suggesting the kidnapping of one Humphrey Wagbara, m of Igwuruta-Atali.

“Operatives of the Command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annexe, acting on this information and in a daring and coordinated operation on 19th September, 2025, at about 0200hrs arrested three suspects at different locations in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of the State in connection with the kidnapping of the victim.”

Iringe-Koko said during interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the State.

Among their past kidnappings are those of Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, where they collected a ransom of N6,900,000 before killing the victim.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include one G-3 rifle with Breech Number 10398, one magazine, one Itel phone belonging to Humphrey Wagbara, a kidnapped victim, three short daggers, one jack knife and one stainless short knife,” Rivers police imagemaker said.

Iringe-Koko added that the suspects and exhibits remain in police custody while detectives track other fleeing members of the syndicate and search for additional weapons.

The Command said it arrested a 48-year-old man, Emmanuel George, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl (name withheld) in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

According to Iringe-Koko, George committed the offence on September 6, 2025, after luring the minor while she was sent on an errand by her aunt.