- A Nigerian man, Sabiu, shared a harrowing experience of nearly becoming a victim of kidney trafficking in Gombe State.
- He fell ill with a fever and was tricked into entering a car by someone who knew his name.
- The vehicle had tinted windows, adding to the danger of the situation.
A Nigerian man has shared a frightening experience of how he narrowly escaped becoming a victim of kidney trafficking in Gombe State after falling ill and being tricked into getting into a car by someone who knew his name.
The story, posted on X (formerly Twitter) by user @GombeDopest_, recounts the terrifying ordeal faced by Sabiu, who, weakened by a fever, unknowingly entered a vehicle with tinted windows.
Sabiu first felt fever symptoms on a Thursday evening and took paracetamol, which gave him brief relief. However, by nightfall, his condition worsened, and he spent the night shivering.
The next morning, too weak to go out alone, he called a neighbor who helped him administer medicine through a cannula.
Feeling somewhat better, he finished his morning prayers and visited his parents. Although they were worried when they saw the cannula, he reassured them he was managing the fever and planned to visit the hospital later for proper treatment.
Before leaving, he quickly charged his phones once the power returned, grabbed his HMO card, ATM card, and some cash, and set out.
He took an Okada (motorcycle taxi), but halfway through the journey, he became dizzy and asked the rider to stop. After waiting about 10 minutes without feeling better, the rider suggested he rest and left.
While sitting by the roadside, a car with tinted windows pulled up. A man inside called out Sabiu’s name. In his weakened state, recognizing the man as someone possibly familiar from his previous banking jobs, he got into the car.
Soon after, things turned grim.
“The two men in the back seat pulled me to the center and forced a long beanie over my head, covering my face. We drove for about 25 minutes. When the beanie was finally removed, I found myself in a room with three men surrounding me,” Sabiu said.
One of the men, wearing gloves and a face mask, drew his blood, took a saliva sample, and demanded a urine sample.
When he hesitated, he was physically beaten until he complied. Although they offered him food, he refused, scared and still feverish.
He noticed a clock on the wall: it was 11:20 a.m.
Left alone for most of the day, he later overheard conversations about his kidney that night, confirming his worst fears.
The doctor returned and, after reviewing documents, confirmed Sabiu was healthy apart from the fever and gave him medication that eased his symptoms. Despite this, Sabiu continued to refuse food and drink.
That night, he overheard the traffickers speaking to the doctor about moving him to Kaduna for surgery scheduled on Monday.
He also heard the driver asking about payment and the kidney’s buyer. One of them quickly noticed the door was left slightly open and locked it properly, fearing Sabiu had overheard—which he had.
Realizing he was in danger, Sabiu inspected the room. The doors and windows were secure, but the ceiling was made of thin rubber-like material.
He dragged a chair to the center, climbed up, and broke through the ceiling. Crawling into another room, he found a weak spot in the roof and forced it open.
Once outside, he hid in a flower bed as a man with a flashlight passed by. When the coast was clear, he climbed a drum near the wall and escaped the compound barefoot and confused.
He flagged down several cars until an elderly man finally stopped and offered to take him to Jekadafari Roundabout.
Exhausted and dazed, Sabiu walked toward Central Primary School where a familiar person recognized him and offered to take him home.
At home, only his mother was there; the rest of the family had been out searching for him.
Weakly knocking, he said, “It’s me.” She opened the door, and he collapsed in her arms, crying. After drinking two sachets of water, he passed out.
His elder brother and wife, both medical professionals, returned shortly after and started treatment. Sabiu was put on IV fluids and injections. He didn’t regain consciousness until midnight the next day, after sleeping for more than 24 hours due to exhaustion and trauma.
When he woke, he told his mother everything, who wept and thanked God for his escape.
“I share my story to warn the public: organ trafficking is real,” Sabiu wrote.
“These people are organized and may even know your name or background. They operate like professionals—from taking medical samples to communicating with buyers.”
His story has sparked widespread concern on social media, with many Nigerians expressing shock and calling on authorities to act quickly to combat the growing threat of organ trafficking.
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