A growing crisis is unfolding in Nigeria as criminal syndicates target teenage girls for organ harvesting, particularly their ovaries, under false pretenses of medical care or financial gain.
Human rights activists and medical professionals are raising alarms over this illicit trade, which preys on vulnerable young women, leaving them physically and emotionally scarred.
A Sinister Trade in the Shadows
Organ harvesting is the illegal removal and sale of human organs, often without consent.
In Nigeria, traffickers lure unsuspecting girls with promises of medical treatment, education, or financial assistance. Many victims, hailing from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, fall prey to these deceptive schemes, only to wake up in agony after their reproductive organs have been removed.
A recent case in Abeokuta, Ogun State, highlights the horrors of this trade. In 2022, two teenage girls were taken to a private hospital under the pretext of receiving medical care. Instead, their ovaries were harvested and sold for N100,000 each.
The crime was initially reported to the police but later abandoned due to corruption and a lack of follow-up by authorities. The girls, who were injected with sedatives before the procedure, suffered severe health complications, including organ damage.
A Father’s Agony
One of the victims, Precious, fell critically ill following the illegal procedure. Her father, a bishop, only discovered the extent of the crime when his daughter began experiencing severe pain and excessive bleeding.
Investigations revealed that a female church member had trafficked the teenagers to Ogun State. Despite his efforts to seek justice, the case was repeatedly transferred between police departments before being handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which has now reopened the investigation.
Legal and Medical Concerns
Legal experts emphasize that Nigeria has laws prohibiting organ trafficking. The National Health Act of 2014 mandates that organ removal requires informed consent and prohibits the trade of human organs.
However, enforcement remains weak due to corruption and inadequate oversight. Lawyer Oliver Gift Chukkol notes that perpetrators face severe legal consequences, including hefty fines and prison sentences, but many escape justice due to compromised investigations.
Medical professionals warn of the dire health risks associated with illegal organ harvesting. Professor Oladapo A. Ashiru, an expert in reproductive medicine, explains that while organ donation is legal under proper medical conditions, illegal procedures performed by unqualified individuals often lead to severe infections, infertility, and even death.
NAPTIP and Government Response
In recent years, NAPTIP has ramped up efforts to combat human trafficking and organ harvesting. In 2023, former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu was convicted in the UK for attempting to traffic a Nigerian citizen for kidney harvesting. Additionally, the agency has prosecuted multiple cases of illegal transplants and human trafficking within Nigeria.
NAPTIP’s press officer, Vincent Adekoye, disclosed that an estimated one million children were trafficked in Akwa Ibom State alone between 2021 and 2024.
He stressed that traffickers use coercion, false promises, and financial incentives to manipulate their victims, making it crucial to strengthen protective measures.
Rising Cases and Urgent Calls for Action
The organ harvesting crisis is not limited to teenagers. In 2023, a 12-year-old boy, Adebola Akin-Bright, died after his intestines were mysteriously removed during a corrective surgery at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
Similarly, in Plateau State, a businessman accused a doctor of illegally removing his wife’s kidneys without consent, causing her chronic pain for years.
Human rights organizations are calling for urgent reforms, including stricter regulations for medical practitioners, improved law enforcement mechanisms, and heightened public awareness campaigns.
Stakeholders emphasize that better economic opportunities, education, and healthcare support for vulnerable communities can help prevent young girls from falling into the hands of organ traffickers.
A Need for Collective Action
The exploitation of teenage girls for organ harvesting is a grim reflection of the vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s healthcare and justice systems.
While NAPTIP and law enforcement agencies have intensified efforts, systemic corruption and inefficiencies hinder effective intervention. Families, communities, and policymakers must work together to dismantle these criminal networks and ensure that victims receive justice.
As awareness grows, so does the hope for change. But for many survivors, the physical and emotional scars of this heinous crime will remain a lifelong burden.
