Esther Salifu
Authorities in Anambra State has raised fresh concern over a disturbing trend where young couples allegedly engage in relationship with the sole intent of producing babies for illegal sale.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has uncovered a growing network of baby-selling cartel in Anambra State, particularly targeting vulnerable communities in rural areas.
Speaking during a press conference in Awka, the state commander of NAPTIP, Mrs. Judith-Chukwu Ibadin, described the development as a deeply unsettling evolution of human trafficking in the region.
“We are witnessing an alarming pattern where young women become pregnant, only for a man to suddenly appear claiming to be a husband Once the baby is born, the child is taken and sold often without the mother’s full understanding or consent,” she said.
Mrs. Ibadin expressed concern that traffickers are exploiting ignorance, poverty, and trust in close-knit communities to perpetuate these crimes. She called for urgent public sensitisation, especially in remote areas where such schemes often go unnoticed.
The commander highlighted the efforts of the Anambra State Task Force on Human Trafficking, established in 2020, which has launched state-specific outreach and education programmes.
“We are working closely with religious leaders, local authorities, and security agencies to raise awareness and dismantle these criminal networks. Our campaigns are community-driven because these crimes happen at the grassroots,” she noted.
She further urged traditional rulers, clergy, and community leaders to become proactive in protecting residents from falling victim to what she termed “a dangerous and organised form of exploitation.”
Looking ahead, she announced that NAPTIP will be scaling up its sensitisation activities during the forthcoming August Meeting an annual convention of women in the Southeast where the agency hopes to spread its message to thousands of women leaders and families.
“This is not just a law enforcement issue; it is a societal one,” she added. “We need collective responsibility to end this menace before more lives are damaged.”
NAPTIP reiterated its commitment to identifying perpetrators and ensuring justice for victims, while encouraging the public to report suspicious activities through the agency’s hotline and community reporting channels.
