Former Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah-Donli, has alleged that some women resort to faking pregnancies and purchasing babies due to the intense social pressure associated with childbearing, particularly within marriage. She made the claims during an interview on the Kaa Truths Podcast, which has since gained widespread attention.
According to Okah-Donli, some women are injected with steroids that cause swollen abdomens and other physical changes, creating the appearance of pregnancy. She claimed that they also imitate pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness before eventually obtaining babies through illegal channels and presenting them as their biological children. She further alleged that some even undergo fake surgical procedures to make it appear they delivered by Caesarean section.The former NAPTIP boss linked the practice to the stigma surrounding infertility, cultural expectations to bear children, fear of marital breakdown, and the desperation experienced by some couples.
She argued that in some instances, paternity disputes are wrongly attributed to infidelity when the child was actually obtained through baby trafficking, stressing that maternity tests should also be conducted where necessary.
Okah-Donli's remarks were presented as allegations based on her experience combating human trafficking. She did not provide specific evidence to support the claims during the interview.
NAPTIP has consistently warned about the existence of baby trafficking syndicates in Nigeria and continues to prosecute offenders involved in such crimes.
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