NAPTIP Clarifies Remarks on Alleged Organ Harvesting in Akwa Ibom Hospitals

UYO – The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Akwa Ibom State Zonal Command, has addressed a misinterpretation of its earlier statement regarding alleged organ harvesting in some hospitals in the state. During a stakeholders’ event marking the 2025 National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Uyo, Mrs. Eme Ukpabio, Head of Public Enlightenment at NAPTIP, mentioned a suspect’s arrest related to organ harvesting and expressed concerns about possible involvement by clinics and hospitals. On Monday, Ukpabio clarified her comments, emphasizing that her remarks were not an accusation against any specific institution in Akwa Ibom but aimed at highlighting the evolving nature of human trafficking in Nigeria. “My statement on organ harvesting was to draw stakeholders’ attention to the dynamism of human trafficking nationwide and globally,” she explained. “NAPTIP never accused any entity in Akwa Ibom of organ harvesting. The intention was to encourage collective efforts among all stakeholders.” Addressing figures on trafficking, Ukpabio referred to a June 2023 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which estimated that 750,000 to 1,000,000 individuals are trafficked annually from Nigeria, including from Akwa Ibom. As an Akwa Ibomite, Ukpabio reiterated her commitment to protecting the state’s reputation and NAPTIP’s integrity. She praised the support NAPTIP has received from the state government in combating human trafficking. Ukpabio assured that the agency would continue collaborating with the state government, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse, and Labour (NACTAL), and other organizations to address trafficking and related concerns effectively.