Metro

NAPTIP Arrests Suspect For Alleged Organ Harvesting In A’Ibom

Published

10 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

Family Declares 45-year-old Hairdresser Missing In Ibeju-Lekki

Published

11 minutes ago

November 4, 2025

Editor

A 45-year-old woman, Oluwafunmilayo Oluwaseun Adesuyi, has been declared missing in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State.

According to Boluwatife Adesuyi, her son, and Mr. Adekunle, her brother-in-law, Oluwafunmilayo, a hairdresser by occupation and mother of four children, who resides at House 1, Road 1, Onidogbo Town, Aiyeteju, Ibeju-Lekki, was last seen on September 17, 2025, within the Ibeju-Lekki area.

She is described as tall and fair in complexion. Boluwatife, her eldest son, said she left home on Thursday, 17th September 2025, and hasn’t returned since then. He said all efforts to trace her whereabouts since the day she went missing have proved unsuccessful.

The case has been reported to the police, and the family is appealing to members of the public with any useful information to assist in locating her.

Anyone with information about Oluwafunmilayo Adesuyi’s whereabouts is urged to contact 08165274101 or report to the nearest police station.

Metro

Police Investigate Disappearance Of Bayelsa Corps Member

Published

16 minutes ago

November 4, 2025

Editor

The Bayelsa State Police Command has opened an investigation into the disappearance of a 24-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr Levi Anyanwu, who has been missing since October 8, 2025.

Anyanwu, serving with the Ijaw National Academy in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, was last seen by acquaintances before his sudden disappearance.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Musa Mohammed, confirmed in a statement on Monday that the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit had been directed to take charge of the investigation.

According to the statement, the missing corps member was last reported to be in the company of fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mr and Mrs Wisdom George, who stated that he had left their home after spending some time with them.

“The George family disclosed that the corps member had complained of illness and was taken to Kaiama Referral Hospital on October 4, 2025, where he was treated and discharged the next day. On October 6, he was said to have left for an unknown destination and has not been seen since,” the police said.

Detectives also questioned Anyanwu’s roommate, Mr. Oke Emmanuel, who corroborated parts of the account, confirming that his colleague had been staying with the George family before his disappearance.

The police further revealed that two inmates at the Igbara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, allegedly extorted ₦100,000 from the missing man’s father after contacting him under the guise of kidnappers.

“The sum was transferred to an Opay account belonging to one Atinuke Oluwalose, identified as a collaborator of the detained inmate. The inmates admitted to obtaining the family’s contact from social media,” the statement added.

Investigators are exploring multiple leads, including personal factors that may have influenced the missing corps member’s actions.

“There is no evidence of kidnapping in this case. Detectives are working to establish a conclusive understanding of the circumstances. The findings so far are revealing,” the police stated.

The command urged the public to provide any credible information that could assist in locating the missing corps member.

In a related development, a 19-year-old woman from Gombe State, Aisha Ibrahim, has gone missing in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.

24-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr Levi Anyanwu, who has been missing since October 8, 2025.
24-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr Levi Anyanwu, who has been missing since October 8, 2025.
According to her brother-in-law, Shehu Muhammed Danladi, Aisha, a nursing student at Glorious Amazing Grace and Maternity Hospital, Ikot Ekpo, 8 Miles Junction, Calabar, was last seen on October 30, 2025, while heading to work.

A resident of Nasarawa, a Hausa settlement in Calabar, Aisha has been untraceable since that day.

“Since that day, we have not heard from her again. We are growing increasingly worried over her whereabouts,” Danladi said, appealing to the public for assistance.

Metro

Court Threatens To Foreclose Kanu If He Fails To Open Defence

Published

25 minutes ago

November 4, 2025

Editor

A Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has threatened to foreclose on the detained self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, should he fail to enter a defence in his ongoing trial for alleged terrorism.

Justice James Omotosho issued the threat on Tuesday after Kanu failed, for the fourth time, to enter his defence after the prosecution closed its case and the court overruled his no-case submission.

Justice Omotosho said that should Kanu fail to open his defence on November 5, he would be deemed to have waived his right to do so.

The court had, on October 27, adjourned till November 4 for Kanu to either file his final written address or open his defence.

At the resumption of proceedings on Tuesday, Kanu, who is conducting his case independently after dismissing his legal team, stated that he had not filed a final written address as ordered by the court but had instead filed a motion and a supporting affidavit.

Kanu said he would not enter any defence because he was convinced that there was no valid charge, known to any extant law, pending against him.

He threatened not to return to detention and demanded that he be set free and allowed to go home immediately because, according to him, there was no valid charge against which he should be further subjected to trial.

Police issue stern warning to IPOB ahead of Anambra guber election
Responding, prosecuting lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) faulted the competence of the fresh court documents filed by Kanu, arguing that they were not properly filed.

Awomolo urged the court to desist from further indulging the defendant, who he claimed was only interested in wasting the court’s time.

He urged the court to deem the documents recently filed by Kanu as his final written address, to order the parties to adopt the final addresses, and to adjourn for judgement.

Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, said the documents recently filed by Kanu were in order and would be considered at the time of judgement.

The judge stated that, having taken judicial notice that the defendant is not a lawyer, he should be given an opportunity to consult a lawyer and get the necessary support.

Justice Omotosho proceeded to adjourn till November 5 for the defendant to either enter his defence or be deemed to have waived his right to do so.