The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised the alarm over a growing trend of youths in Anambra State engaging in the production of babies solely for commercial purposes.
Commander of NAPTIP in the state, Judith-Chukwu Ibadin, described the development as disturbing and likened it to the resurgence of “baby factories” where young couples cohabit by mutual consent with the sole aim of selling their babies after birth.
Speaking with journalists in her Awka office on Saturday, Judith-Chukwu said the practice is spreading rapidly, particularly in rural communities, and is becoming increasingly difficult to trace due to its evolving and clandestine nature.
“We have seen instances where a girl gets pregnant, and suddenly, someone appears with a marriage proposal. After she delivers, the so-called husband disappears with the child and sells the baby—sometimes without the mother’s consent or knowledge,” she said.
She explained that these activities are being carried out under the guise of informal relationships and are mostly unreported, which makes law enforcement intervention more challenging.
The NAPTIP Commander lamented that despite ongoing efforts, many residents in rural areas remain unaware of the implications of human trafficking and baby trade, calling for increased public enlightenment campaigns.
“NAPTIP has been doing a lot through the state task force on human trafficking. Since its formation in 2020, we’ve intensified awareness drives, particularly in vulnerable communities, to expose the deceptive tactics used by traffickers,” she said.
According to her, the agency is collaborating with local and state-level stakeholders including traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, and women groups to combat the menace.
Judith-Chukwu emphasized the need for community involvement in reporting suspicious activities and pledged that NAPTIP would use the upcoming August meetings across the state as a major opportunity to scale up public sensitisation efforts.
“We are working with everyone that matters—from religious bodies to sister law enforcement agencies. Our goal is to ensure this organised crime is disrupted at every level,” she said.
She urged parents and guardians to be more vigilant and advised young women to beware of deceptive relationships, stressing that trafficking networks often exploit emotional vulnerability for financial gain.
The NAPTIP boss reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to prosecuting offenders and dismantling trafficking rings operating under the pretext of marriage or cohabitation.
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