A child is the most precious gift one could be given
in this world.  It is of immeasurable worth and significance and should be treasured by everyone.
So, why is this priceless gift often abused by people who are privileged to receive them? A few days ago a horrid story hit the news stand about a young nursing mother in Akwa Ibom State –ImaObong Udoh – who was arrested by the police for allegedly selling her three-day old baby for N260,000.00.
The dirty deal was carried out in connivance with the traditional birth attendant, who delivered the baby and a homoeopathic doctor, who arranged the sale.
Reading such story which has become a regular news item in Nigeria, one wonders what goes through some peoples’ mind to make them act in such disgusting manner.  Some people are desperate for a baby, for a child to love and call their own and can offer a wonderful life with a supporting, caring loving environment, yet they do not get the gift of a child.  Some have done everything recommended to help improve their chance, some have battled through many episode, of IVF still no baby. And then there are people like ImaObong who prefer money to the precious gift given to them.  Over the past years a series of black market maternity homes that take a portion of the profit for the sale of each child were discovered.
A number of raids mainly in the South-East targeting traffickers rescued many pregnant women and girls,  with the intent of selling their new born babies.
Investigations reveal that in most cases, young women run to such homes to avoid the stigma attached to pregnancies conceived outside of marriage.  Other reports suggest that some of these women have been kidnapped and forcibly impregnated by trafficker.  Yet handfuls who voluntarily submit themselves see it as a business.
Human trafficking, including selling children is a criminal offence that attracts a maximum sentence of life in prison yet it is one the increase across the country.  The United Nations recently identified  human trafficking and children selling as Nigeria’s third common crime behind fraud and drug trafficking.  The European Union has also cited Nigeria as the African country where the scourge is most common.  The nagging question then is, what should be done to fix this problem?
One thinks, it is high time more drastic measures are taken to check this menace.
It is high time we used the legal instruments to put child selling racketeers and all involved in the dehumanizing trade where they belong.  Of course the efforts of the police and other security operatives in raiding baby factories, freeing the pregnant  women and exposing those involved in the illegal deal is quite commendable.  But what we need to know is what happens a afterwards? What becomes of the persons involved? Has any of the proprietors of these homes and their collaborators ever gone through trial?  How many of them have been punished in accordance with the 2003. Human trafficking law? Our security agents must also be aware of the new method adopted by child traffickers in caring out their deal.  Investigations indicate that the child selling racketeers now give out pregnant teenage girls to their collaborators who pretend to be their parents. They collect the child as soon as it is born and send to the buyer.
And that brings us to question who are the buyer of these babies and why do they do so?  Are they majorly couples who are unable to have their own children or the babies are sold to ritualist as some insinuate?  And why would anybody want to buy a baby from a system as fowl and ghoulish as a baby factory or a fake doctor rather than opt for adoption of a baby from an organised, structured, regulated and legal adoption system.  Yes the laws about adopting children in Nigeria can be tedious, but it is still safer and more dignified than going through the illegal back door.
Perhaps it is also time for us to deal with the issue of stigma about adoption to enable more needy couples freely and openly choose that option.
Since most of the freed pregnant women in baby factories are teenagers, one should ask what role the family structure plays in the child harvesting business. Are their parents aware of their daughters’ involvement or do the girls just disappear from home and re-appear after nine months with a mother’s body?  Were any of these girls ever reported missing prior to each parade?
Indeed, for this recurrent problem to be tackled, parents must be alive to their responsibilities.  They should be involved in the day to day activities of their children, teach them sex education and should an unplanned pregnancy occurs, they should know the best way to manage the situation instead of “pushing” their daughter to sell their babies.
As Pastor Williams Kumuyi of the Deeper Christian Life Bible Church recently admonished, there is need for youths in the country to be repositioned to become change agents.  This he said could only be achieved if there is attitudinal and behavioural transformation and  value re-orientation of the young people.
Our youth and indeed the entire citizens need to know that human life is sacred, human life is divine and most be protected at all act. No reason, be it poverty, hunger, peer group influence or whatever can justify the trading away of human beings like petty commodities. It is pure act of wickedness on the innocent souls who were not begged to be born.  One also sees in this shameful act a larger picture of societal decay which must be checked if the future of this nation must be guaranteed.
Government at various levels, civil society groups, women groups, religious and cultural groups should join hands in putting an end the stupid, dehumanizing act.
A child is the most precious gift one could ever be given in this world. It is of immeasurable worth and significance and should be treasured by everyone.
Calista Ezeaku