Cartels Target Teenage Girls For Organ Harvesting In Nigeria

Teenage Girls Targeted in Nigeria’s Organ Harvesting Scandal

A Silent Crisis Unfolding

LAGOS — A deeply troubling crisis is emerging in Nigeria, where teenage girls are being drawn into an underground network of illegal organ harvesting. Criminal syndicates deceive victims with promises of financial assistance or medical aid, only to exploit them by removing their reproductive organs for sale.

These girls, often from low-income backgrounds, are manipulated by individuals posing as medical professionals or trustworthy figures. Under the guise of offering a better future, these criminals engage in a gruesome trade that thrives within the shadows of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Though largely unknown to the public, doctors and human rights activists are raising alarm over this horrifying exploitation.

The illicit trade of human organs, particularly targeting minors, is a blatant violation of human rights, demanding immediate intervention.

How Organ Harvesting Operates

Organ harvesting refers to the illegal extraction of body parts, often for commercial purposes, without the victim’s informed consent. Nigerian laws recognize that consent under coercion does not constitute true agreement, yet enforcement remains a challenge.

In one shocking case from 2022, two teenage girls were lured to a private hospital in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where their ovaries were removed without their knowledge. A woman acted as the intermediary between the doctor and the girls, convincing them to undergo the procedure. The organs were then sold for just N100,000 each.

The crime only came to light when one of the girls fell gravely ill. Her father, initially believing she had malaria, took her to a hospital where tests revealed severe internal damage. She later confessed that she and another girl were trafficked by a trusted church member who facilitated the illegal surgeries.

Both victims recounted being drugged and subjected to painful procedures. Further examinations in Lagos showed extensive damage to their reproductive organs, including their uterus, kidneys, and bladder.

Despite multiple reports to law enforcement agencies, the case was largely ignored, with allegations of police corruption surfacing. Investigators allegedly demanded bribes, delaying justice. Eventually, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) reopened the case.

State Government Intervention and Victim Accounts

In 2023, the Lagos State government ordered a probe into organ harvesting cases, but no concrete results emerged. One survivor, Temitope, shared her harrowing experience of nearly becoming a victim.

She was introduced to a woman known as “Madam Queen,” an intermediary for a fertility center. Initially unaware of the dangers, Temitope considered the offer of egg donation for N150,000. However, after researching the procedure, she became suspicious and ultimately backed out.

She later discovered that her recruiter attempted to pressure her into sex work when she hesitated. The incident highlights how traffickers manipulate young women into dangerous medical procedures under false pretenses.

Legal Framework and Challenges

Nigerian laws, including the National Health Act (2014), the Criminal Code, and the Child Rights Act, explicitly prohibit organ trafficking and medical procedures without proper consent. However, enforcement remains weak due to corruption and lack of resources.

Legal expert Oliver Gift Chukkol explains that penalties for organ trafficking in Nigeria range from fines of up to N5,000,000 to prison sentences. Yet, many perpetrators evade justice due to compromised investigations.

Several high-profile cases have demonstrated the extent of the crisis:

2023: Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu was convicted in the UK for conspiring to harvest a young Nigerian’s kidney.
2023: A 12-year-old boy in Lagos died after his intestines were allegedly removed during a surgery.
2024: NAPTIP prosecuted a prominent Abuja-based doctor for illegal kidney harvesting.

International Treaties and Medical Ethics

Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), which includes protocols against human trafficking and organ removal.

Medical professionals emphasize the health risks associated with illegal organ harvesting, particularly when conducted by unqualified individuals. Professor Oladapo A. Ashiru, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), warns that removing organs like ovaries or kidneys without proper procedures can cause lifelong complications.

Experts recommend stricter regulations and mandatory government oversight for fertility clinics and medical centers involved in organ or egg donations.

Disturbing Trends in Nigeria’s Organ Trade

Reports from late 2024 and early 2025 suggest that organ trafficking is increasing in Nigeria. In Makurdi, Benue State, several mutilated corpses with missing organs were discovered, sparking fears of active cartels.

In January 2025, NAPTIP accused medical centers in Akwa Ibom of participating in a booming organ trade. The agency estimates that between 2021 and 2024, up to one million children were trafficked for various exploitative purposes.

Authorities continue to battle this growing crisis, but the demand for human organs—fueled by poverty and weak law enforcement—remains a significant challenge.

Conclusion: The Need for Urgent Action

The rising cases of organ harvesting in Nigeria call for stronger legal enforcement, public awareness, and government intervention. The exploitation of young girls, particularly for reproductive organs, is a severe human rights violation that must not be ignored.

Authorities, medical professionals, and advocacy groups must work together to protect vulnerable individuals and ensure justice for victims. Only through a unified effort can Nigeria curb this disturbing trade and hold perpetrators accountable.