In a troubling exposé, BBC Africa Eye has unraveled a sinister scheme operating in Nigeria, where women desperate to conceive are falling victim to a fraudulent "cryptic pregnancy" practice. Witness Chioma's story; after eight unsuccessful years of trying to become a mother, she now clings to Hope, the baby she insists is her own. Accompanied by her husband Ike, Chioma found herself on the receiving end of an hour-long interrogation by Ify Obinabo, Anambra state's commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, triggered by skepticism from Ike’s family regarding the legitimacy of Hope’s parentage.
Chioma claims she was the victim of a 15-month “pregnancy” induced by a clinic offering dubious, unregulated treatments. Under severe familial pressure to give birth, Chioma sought help from a "doctor" who perpetrated this elaborate ruse involving baby trafficking and false medical practices. In Nigeria, societal expectations to bear children run high, pressuring many women into seeking desperate measures.
The extent of this scam reveals scammers duping women into believing they’re undergoing miraculous treatments, presenting fake medical information and circulation of non-essential medications, which they claim is crucial for pregnancy. Women are advised against seeking conventional medical care, leaving them isolated and manipulated throughout their experience.
During the undercover investigation, the BBC team discovered “Dr. Ruth,” a figurehead operating in Anambra state, who conducted treatment sessions in a makeshift clinic held in a dilapidated hotel. The atmosphere was unnervingly optimistic, with women celebrating misleadingly positive affirmations about their pregnancies, only to later be coerced into paying exorbitant fees for fabricated treatments to "induce labor."
The web of misinformation fuels these scams further, with online communities propagating fallacies about cryptic pregnancy, enabling scammers to gain traction. Moreover, the dire lack of reproductive rights and stigma surrounding infertility perpetuate this cycle of exploitation.
The recent raid by local authorities revealed alarming conditions where women were held under false pretenses and had their babies sold. Survivor testimonies highlight the confusion and regret faced after realizing the extent of manipulation by traffickers. Commissioner Ify Obinabo expressed her intent to combat the pervasive impact of these scams committed against vulnerable populations.
As officials grapple with the fallout, the unsettling reality is that without significant shifts in societal attitudes towards women's health and reproductive rights, such scams will continue to proliferate in the shadows of desperation.
