Terror on the Road: Commuter Drugged, Abandoned in Imo State Bush Amid Organ Harvesting Fears

 

Fear and uncertainty are gripping residents of Imo State once again, following a deeply unsettling incident involving a commuter who claims he was drugged and nearly abducted, possibly for organ harvesting. The alarming ordeal, which occurred on May 28, 2025, is raising fresh questions about the rising wave of criminal activity across the southeastern state.

Onyekwere Edward Emeka, a native of Olakwo Enyiogugu in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, narrated his harrowing experience from Owerri, where he spoke to Vanguard reporters. His account, filled with shock and disbelief, paints a disturbing picture of a region grappling with a new, more sinister threat.

What began as a routine journey quickly turned into a nightmare for Emeka. He had been standing at the Fire Service Roundabout in Owerri that Tuesday morning, awaiting transport to Mbaise, his hometown. A commercial vehicle, operated under the guise of a familiar Imo State transport service, pulled over. Trusting its appearance, he boarded without hesitation.

Not long after departure, the driver made a simple request for change. Emeka, acting in good faith, handed over ₦1,000. Moments later, his vision blurred and consciousness faded—he had unknowingly walked into a trap.

"I suddenly felt dizzy. Everything was spinning. The next thing I remember was waking up, tied and blindfolded," Emeka recounted with a trembling voice.

When he regained his senses, it was not in a hospital or his destination, but deep within a dense bushland. Disoriented and terrified, he began calling out. A stranger, possibly a farmer or passerby, responded to his cries.

This unidentified man, whose courage became the turning point of the story, listened patiently as Emeka recounted his ordeal. Sensing the urgency of the situation, the rescuer untied the victim and helped him regain composure. He took a photograph of Emeka—perhaps as a record or to verify the truth of his story—and guided him out of the forested area.

They had, as it turned out, been in the Ngor Okpala axis of the state, a location not unfamiliar with security concerns in recent years. The man later dropped Emeka off at Ihitte Junction, along the bustling Owerri-Aba Road, where he assisted him in finding transport back to the city.

Despite this close brush with danger, Emeka did not lodge a formal complaint with the police. His decision, though understandable, underscores a growing challenge: the diminishing trust in the justice and security systems among citizens. His inability to identify the driver or recall the bus’s license plate left him feeling helpless.

"I didn’t go to the police," Emeka admitted. "I can't identify the driver, and there’s no number on the vehicle I remember. I just want people to be careful. Our safety is in our hands now."

This latest incident has set off alarm bells in the local community, with fears that such criminal acts may be part of a broader, more coordinated organ harvesting syndicate. While suspicions remain unconfirmed, the pattern fits similar cases that have emerged across the country in recent times.

Across Owerri and its surrounding towns, residents are sharing the story, expressing both shock and anger. Many are calling for immediate government intervention and proactive policing, especially along public transport routes known to be exploited by criminal gangs.

Civil society groups and local leaders are not staying silent. Public calls for increased surveillance, mandatory bus registration checks, and routine patrols have grown louder, demanding swift action before more lives are endangered.

Curiously, as of the time of filing this report, the Imo State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement. Their silence is fueling speculation and public frustration, adding to the general sense of insecurity and mistrust.

As more citizens like Emeka share their encounters, the narrative is shifting. No longer are these seen as isolated incidents. Instead, a chilling possibility is emerging—that an organized criminal network may be operating under the radar, preying on unsuspecting commuters and exploiting gaps in regional security systems.

In the words of the victim, one message stands out more than any other: “Eternal vigilance should be our watchword.”

Whether this plea becomes a turning point for policy changes or yet another overlooked cry in the wilderness remains to be seen. For now, one man’s terrifying escape serves as a warning—one that no resident of Imo State can afford to ignore.