The Anambra State Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Ibadin Judith-Chukwu, has exposed a chilling new trend: young couples pretending to cohabit solely to produce babies for sale.
According to the commander, the disturbing trend is especially rampant in rural parts of Anambra, where poverty and lack of awareness make communities easy targets for human traffickers.
Speaking in an interview, Judith-Chukwu described the situation as “a dangerous twist” in the human trafficking trade, revealing how young women are lured into sham relationships, impregnated, and then robbed of their newborns by men pretending to be their partners only for the babies to be sold to the highest bidder.
“A girl gets pregnant, then a man suddenly comes with a marriage proposal. Once she gives birth, he disappears with the baby sold off, often without her knowledge,” she said.
“We’re seeing more cases in villages where people are unaware of these schemes. It’s heartbreaking.”
Judith-Chukwu commended the efforts of the Anambra State Task Force on Human Trafficking, which was established in 2020 to tackle the growing menace.
She said the task force has intensified public awareness campaigns, community engagement, and collaboration with sister agencies to help curb the sale of babies.
“We’re reaching out to traditional rulers, pastors, imams every voice matters in this fight against organized crime,” she emphasized.
Looking ahead, the NAPTIP boss revealed that the agency is preparing for intensive sensitization during the upcoming August meeting, describing it as a crucial opportunity to reach thousands of women across the state.
“The traffickers are organized. We must be more organized. Every family, every community must be on alert,” she warned.
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