The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has expressed deep concern over an emerging trend in Anambra State where young people are reportedly engaging in relationships solely for the purpose of producing babies for sale.
Speaking to journalists in Awka, the Anambra State Commander of NAPTIP, Mrs. Judith-Chukwu Ibadin, described the development as an alarming twist in the human trafficking crisis.
“We are seeing shocking cases where two young people cohabit, not out of love or commitment, but for the purpose of giving birth to children who are later sold,” she said.
According to her, some victims are misled into such arrangements, while others are unaware that their babies will be taken from them after birth.
She recounted instances where a man would propose marriage to a pregnant girl, only to disappear with the newborn and sell the child without the mother’s consent.
“This practice is more prevalent in rural communities, where awareness is low and traffickers exploit poverty and ignorance,” Judith-Chukwu noted.
She added that NAPTIP has been making efforts to curb human trafficking through the establishment of state-level task forces.
These task forces, she said, are active in tackling region-specific trafficking cases and raising awareness, particularly in rural areas.
“Since the Anambra State Task Force on Human Trafficking was inaugurated in 2020, we have carried out various sensitization campaigns. We are engaging traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to ensure this message reaches every corner of the state,” she explained.
Judith-Chukwu emphasized that the agency is preparing for the upcoming August Meeting—a widely attended annual gathering of women in the South-East—which she described as a strategic opportunity to intensify public enlightenment efforts.
She also called for stronger collaboration with other law enforcement bodies, civil society groups, and religious institutions, describing the sale of babies as “a dangerous form of organized crime that must be stopped.”
NAPTIP reiterated its commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and prosecuting traffickers while urging residents to report suspicious activities in their communities.
