On the 17th day of November, Precious, a 20-year-old, 200-level student of FUTO, went into unexpected labor inside a small clinic in Eziobodo, one of the student communities surrounding the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
She had no hospital bag, no family member with her, and no idea how close she had come to losing her newborn forever. Precious had been instructed to deliver her baby in Aba, at a place she believed was a medical clinic. But it wasn’t a clinic.
And the woman she thought was a nurse was part of a trafficking ring that had already arranged to sell her child immediately after birth, it was this unplanned labor, far away from their control, that saved the life of her baby.
Precious’ ordeal started months earlier when she discovered she was pregnant for a man she later learned was married. Her pregnancy remained hidden for months due to cryptic symptoms; she still menstruated lightly and did not show obvious signs.
When she finally confided in the man responsible, he gave her an address in Aba. He claimed a “nurse” there would help her “remove” the pregnancy discreetly. But when she arrived, the story changed. The woman told her she could not terminate the pregnancy but could link her to “a couple who desperately needed a child.”
In her moment of fear, confusion, and shame, Precious felt she had no options. She insisted she never agreed to sell her baby; she only asked for temporary help. But the syndicate had already made plans behind her back.
They instructed her to return to Aba on the 23rd of November 2025 to deliver the baby. That delivery was meant to happen under their control, and the baby was never meant to come back with her.
On the 17th of November, Precious unexpectedly went into labor in Eziobodo. The so-called “nurse” in Aba panicked when she heard. She immediately sent three women to Eziobodo to retrieve Precious and the newborn. They arrived pretending to be helpers.
But Precious, still weak from delivery, confided in her roommates and friends, alarmed by what they heard; they alerted the Umuchima vigilante group, who acted quickly and one of the three women sent from Aba was arrested; the other two fled.
But the story did not end there, what the Police Told Us Is More Disturbing Than We Imagined.
When the CSAAE Advocacy Team arrived at the Umuchima Police Division, the officers confirmed a frightening reality: This is not the first case, and it will not be the last unless urgent action is taken.
According to the Divisional Police Officer, baby trafficking within the student communities of Owerri West is “rising at an alarming rate.”
Areas most affected include:
- Eziobodo
- Umuchima
- Ihiagwa
- Umuokpo
- Nekede axis
These communities host thousands of students, many far from home, financially stressed, and lacking emotional support.
Traffickers know this, they pose as nurses, birth attendants, caregivers, and “helpers.” They promise solutions, but what they deliver is exploitation. Some newborns are sold for up to ₦1 million, depending on negotiation, and many cases never reach the police.
The DPO described the area as “fast becoming the Ajegunle of Imo State” in terms of criminal activity, especially baby trafficking.
These networks prey on young girls who are:
- Afraid of parental disappointment
- Financially vulnerable
- Pregnant out of wedlock
- Unaware of their rights
- Living far from family
- Seeking help quietly
Predators exploit their fear, and because society often shames pregnant students, many choose silence, making them easy targets.
The Near-Sale of Precious’ Baby Is a Mirror of a Larger Crisis. Her story is a mirror reflecting: The stigma attached to young pregnancy, the existence of illegal “clinics” operating as baby factories, the manipulation of vulnerable students, weak community monitoring, lack of safe spaces for young mothers and increasing trafficking networks in Owerri West.
Unless something changes, many babies will be taken, and many girls will continue to suffer in silence.
To protect vulnerable students and infants, we urgently need:
1. Campus and Community Sensitization
Students, landlords, security groups, and communities must be educated about these trafficking rings.
2. Stronger Partnerships with Police & NAPTIP
Rapid response systems should be created around student areas.
3. Support Centers for Pregnant Students
Safe, non-judgmental spaces for counselling, referral, antenatal care, and protection.
4. Crackdown on Illegal Birth Homes
Regular monitoring and closure of unlicensed facilities.
5. Empowerment & Awareness for Young Women
Knowledge is the first defense against exploitation.
Baby Trafficking Is Not Culture, It Is a Crime Against Humanity
We cannot normalize it.
We cannot overlook it.
And we cannot allow vulnerable young women to continue falling into the traps of traffickers.
The life of Precious’ baby was saved, but how many babies have been silently taken?
This crisis demands attention.