In Nigeria, a disturbing reality continues to unfold as vulnerable women and children fall victim to a cruel and exploitative scam. At the heart of this issue are two deeply troubling practices: the trafficking of babies through forced pregnancies and the deception of infertile women through fabricated “cryptic pregnancies.” These schemes not only violate human rights but also expose broader societal challenges.

The Two Faces of the Scam

The scam operates in two interconnected ways:

Forced Pregnancies: Young girls are often abducted, coerced, or lured into facilities where they are kept against their will and made pregnant. These so-called “baby factories” strip these young women of their autonomy and subject them to inhumane conditions. Once they give birth, their babies are taken away, trafficked, and sold for profit. The physical and emotional toll on these young mothers is profound, leaving them with lasting trauma.

Cryptic Pregnancy Fraud: Women facing infertility are particularly targeted. They are led to believe they are experiencing a “cryptic pregnancy,” a supposed condition where the pregnancy remains undetectable by conventional tests. These women are promised a baby after nine months in exchange for large sums of money for “special drugs” or treatments. Tragically, the babies these women receive are often trafficked infants from the forced pregnancy network.

Exploiting Vulnerability

These scams thrive on desperation. For women struggling with infertility, societal pressures and cultural expectations amplify their emotional vulnerability. In many communities, motherhood is closely tied to a woman’s identity, leading to stigma and isolation for those unable to conceive. Scammers exploit this desperation, offering hope in exchange for compliance and money.

The young girls forced into these baby factories face a different form of exploitation. Many are abducted or tricked into captivity, losing their freedom and, ultimately, their children. This systematic abuse treats human life as a commodity, stripping these girls of their dignity and rights.

The Wider Impact

The consequences of these practices extend far beyond individual victims. The trafficked babies often end up in illegal adoptions or worse, fuelling a larger network of human trafficking and organ harvesting. Corruption, weak law enforcement, and societal silence further perpetuate these crimes, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity.

The cryptic pregnancy fraud also reveals the harm caused by misinformation and the lack of access to proper medical care. Women desperate for solutions are left financially and emotionally devastated when the truth emerges.

Tackling the Issue

Addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach. Governments must strengthen laws and enforcement to dismantle the networks involved in baby trafficking. Community-based education campaigns are essential to raise awareness about these scams and empower women to recognise and resist exploitation.

Society must also work to destigmatise infertility and provide better support systems for affected women. Accessible and affordable healthcare, along with counselling and support groups, can help reduce the vulnerability of those targeted by such schemes.

The Path Forward

The exploitation of women and children through forced pregnancies and cryptic pregnancy fraud is a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic change. This is not only a legal issue but a moral one, requiring action from governments, communities, and individuals to protect the dignity and rights of the most vulnerable.

The path to justice begins with awareness and accountability. By prioritising education, stronger legal frameworks, and support for victims, society can work toward dismantling these exploitative systems and ensuring that such tragedies become a thing of the past

Author

Ugochi. A. Nkwunonwo