Economic Hardship Driving Youths to Sell Kidneys, Atiku Alleges
Former Vice President and Africa Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over reports of young Nigerians selling their kidneys in desperate attempts to survive amid the country’s cost-of-living crisis. In a post on X on Thursday, Atiku said he had heard what he described as disturbing accounts of young people resorting to selling parts of their bodies to raise money. He argued that Nigerian youths should be pursuing careers, businesses, innovation and their dreams rather than considering their body organs as a means of survival. Atiku linked the situation to rising living costs under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing the increasing cost of food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity. He claimed that some young Nigerians were reportedly being driven to sell their kidneys for as little as 1.7 million naira, describing the development as a reflection of extreme economic desperation. Atiku said the situation should concern every Nigerian and argued that the country could no longer regard such reports as ordinary economic hardship.
Atiku acknowledged that Nigeria has laws prohibiting commercial organ sales and organ trafficking but maintained that legislation alone could not address the poverty and desperation that leave vulnerable young people exposed to criminal networks. He called for economic reforms focused on improving living conditions, including affordable food, cheaper transportation, accessible healthcare, decent employment opportunities and renewed hope for the younger generation. His comments come amid reports and unverified claims of organ trafficking in parts of the country. The Nigeria Police Force recently paraded four suspects, including two nephrologists, over an alleged organ-trafficking operation. Police said one suspect, Emmanuel Ode, allegedly admitted to recruiting victims and disclosed that a 22-year-old man had been lured to a hospital in Abuja in April, where his kidney was allegedly harvested for 1,250 dollars, said to be equivalent to about 1.7 million naira. Investigators said the alleged syndicate targeted financially vulnerable young people in Nasarawa and neighboring areas.
#UTVAfrica#
