NAPTIP asks NMA to probe doctors over illegal organ harvesting ...says N/east now hub for human traffickers

By Ruby Leo

The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli has called on the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the federal ministry of health to immediately investigate activities of some doctors who might be involved in illegal organ harvesting.

Speaking during a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, she observed illegal organ harvesting has suddenly become a blooming business in the 21stcentury on a global scale with many Nigerians falling victims.

“We are also looking closely at hospitals in Nigeria, just like Egypt came out announce that some hospital are involved in such acts, we are now looking closely at hospital and once we catch them they will be named,” she said.

Okah-Donli also called on the Nigerians police to thoroughly investigate ritual murders to ascertain that it is not a case of illegal harvesting of organs.

Meanwhile, the NAPTIP boss said the North East has suddenly become a hub for human traffickers to recruit unsuspecting victims.

The NAPTIP boss, who was speaking during a press briefing yesterday, said traffickers have now stormed the region to prey on the vulnerability of their victims who are desperate to survive.

On the forthcoming yuletide season, she warned Nigerians to be wary of human traffickers who come home to display their ill-gotten wealth and deceive potential victims with tales of a rosy life in cities and abroad.