Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the arrest of four suspects allegedly linked to an organ-harvesting and human-trafficking syndicate in Nasarawa State.
The Nigeria Police Force said its Special Tactical Squad arrested the suspects during a sting operation conducted on August 19 in Auta Balifi, Karu Local Government Area of the state.
Among those arrested were two medical doctors identified as nephrologists, alongside two other suspects. Police alleged that one of the suspects recruited vulnerable young people using false promises before directing them to hospitals where their kidneys were allegedly removed.
According to the police, one alleged victim was reportedly taken to a hospital in Abuja in April 2026, where his kidney was allegedly removed after he was recruited by the suspected syndicate.
Reacting to the development, Atiku expressed concern over reports that some young Nigerians were allegedly being driven by economic hardship to consider selling their body organs.
The former vice president linked the situation to the rising cost of living, arguing that increasing prices of food, transportation, accommodation, education, medicine and electricity were putting additional pressure on young Nigerians.
Atiku said the alleged organ-harvesting cases should be viewed not only as a criminal matter but also as a warning about the level of economic desperation facing vulnerable citizens.
He argued that laws prohibiting the commercial sale of human organs were necessary but would not, on their own, address the circumstances that make vulnerable people targets for criminal networks.
The ADC presidential candidate called for economic policies that would improve living conditions and provide Nigerians with legitimate opportunities to earn a living.
He also criticised the economic direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, saying reforms should take into account their effect on ordinary citizens.
The police investigation into the alleged syndicate is ongoing, while the arrested suspects are expected to face legal proceedings in accordance with the law.
The case has generated renewed concerns about the protection of vulnerable Nigerians from exploitation and the need for stronger enforcement against illegal organ trafficking.
The development has also drawn political attention as parties and presidential candidates position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku’s reaction places the alleged organ-harvesting case within the broader debate over Nigeria’s economic conditions, youth welfare and government policies.
