Father, Two Pastors Arrested After His 24-Year-Old Disabled Son Died While Attempting To Remove His Hunchback To Sell For N10M
Operatives of the Rivers State-based vigilance organization, ONELGA OSPAC, have detained a father, identified as Ejike Wilson, and two pastors over the death of his 24-year-old disabled son in the state’s Port Harcourt area.
Lucky Wilson, a young man, reportedly died after an operation to remove his hunchback and sell it to suspected organ smugglers.
The suspects were apprehended while attempting to depart Port Harcourt, according to an officer with the security group’s Planning and Advisory Committee, nicknamed OSPAC, who verified the occurrence to Punch on Sunday, September 10, 2023.
Olatoye Olawale, 54, the pastor of a new generation church in Osiakpo, near Omoku in the state, stated the victim was turned up to him by his father, Ejike, and Ejike’s younger brother, Pastor Paul Osiagor Wilson.
During questioning, Olatoye was claimed to have confessed that the two brought Lucky to him for a medical procedure to allow the family to extract mercury from his hunchback.
“Paul stated that his brother (Ejike) had a son with a hunchback whom he intended to remove.” When I questioned why, he stated the youngster was a thief, this and that. He claimed that when the boy was considerably younger, his father tried to sell him, but it did not go well.
“He asked if I knew anyone who could take the boy. I informed him that I will look into it.”
The suspect wrote that they had all agreed to medical treatment. They contacted an associate purported to be in Abeokuta, Ogun State, who promised to pay N10 million for mercury extracted from the victim’s hunchback.
“The boy in question (Lucky) even came to meet me, begging me to help him if the hunchback could be removed.” He stated that he wished to be treated as a normal human being.
“I told them he might not make it through the procedure, but he said he would.” That’s when we decided on a date to travel for the treatment.
“My first contact was with an NGO in Owerri, Imo State, who promised to extract the ‘mercury’ and pay us N5 million,” I asked him what our % would be. Finally, both Paul and Ejike accepted the N5m deal, but the NGO failed to appear.”
The suspect said he sought another ‘contact’ in Abeokuta, Ogun State, who offered to pay N10m only after two or three months, which both parties agreed to.
He saw the victim’s father, Ejike, constantly interrupting him in his office.
“Ejike handed over the boy to me on the day we traveled to Lagos for the surgery before heading to Abeokuta, and Paul gave me N15,000 for transportation.”
“I called the father at the hospital because of the document we were supposed to sign, but he told me to go ahead and sign on his behalf.” “The operation was performed, but the boy did not survive,” he continued.
Paul, Ejike’s 38-year-old brother, expressed regret over the incident but denied involvement, stating he just introduced Olawale to his brother. He then asserted that he was not involved in their subsequent conversation with Olawole and his brother and denied providing them with transportation, as described by Pastor Olawale.
While speaking to reporters, OSPAC Commander Felix Nwobakata stated that the arrest would deter anyone attempting to engage in ceremonial actions.
He verified the arrest through his media aide, Obed Douglas, saying that the two pastors and the victim’s father had been apprehended.
“All three suspects have been handed over to the Assistant Inspector General, Monitoring Unit, Zone 16, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for further investigation and prosecution.”
