The Enugu State Police Command has issued a clarification regarding a viral video that sparked rumors of organ harvesting at a hotel within the state.
The video, which surfaced on social media platform X.com on Sunday, depicted a dramatic rescue of two women from a hotel room, amidst allegations that they were being targeted for organ theft.
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One of the women claimed that armed men were involved in the incident, and she was rescued after attempting to escape through a window while the suspects were temporarily absent.
In response, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, released a press statement via X.com on Monday, categorically debunking the allegations.
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According to Ndukwe, preliminary investigations revealed that the incident was not an attempted murder or organ harvesting but rather a case of extortion and fraud.
“The Enugu State Police Command has addressed a viral video showing two women purportedly rescued from a hotel room in Enugu, where they were allegedly tied up with the intent to harvest their organs by two young men,” the statement clarified.
Contrary to the misleading narrative, the police investigation disclosed that the women, who were reportedly commercial sex workers, had encountered the suspects at a hotel on Agbani Road, Enugu, on July 3rd.
“The following day, the women returned to the same hotel where they were threatened, assaulted, and restrained by the suspects,” the statement continued.
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“At the hotel, the suspects forcefully took the women’s phones, obtained their account details and PINs under duress, and confined them within the hotel room’s toilet.”
The suspects managed to leave the hotel discreetly before the victims were eventually rescued, as depicted in the circulating video.
“They subsequently withdrew a total of one hundred and twenty thousand naira (₦120,000.00) from the victims’ bank accounts,” the statement added.
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The police recovered a bag containing two kitchen knives and sportswear left behind by the suspects at the scene. Efforts are currently underway to apprehend the suspects, who fled the scene.
In light of this incident, the police have advised hotel owners and managers to enhance security measures significantly, ensuring thorough screening of lodgers and collection of verifiable details before accommodation is granted.
Furthermore, young women have been cautioned against socializing with unfamiliar individuals, especially males, to prevent falling victim to similar criminal schemes.
