The Phenomenon of “Baby Factories” in Nigeria as a New Trend in Human Trafficking

The Phenomenon of “Baby Factories” in Nigeria as a New Trend in Human Trafficking

The Phenomenon of “Baby Factories” in Nigeria as a New Trend in Human Trafficking

Nigerian traffickers are now exploiting their victims for “baby harvesting”: kidnapping pregnant women or not pregnant women to be impregnated, and keeping the babies to be sold for international or domestic adoption, rituals, slave labor, or sexual exploitation. This paper starts a conversation about this phenomenon in order to raise awareness on the issue. It reviews case-studies around the issue, and describes current legal framework surrounding it. It explains the root causes of “baby harvesting,” measures currently taken against it, and makes recommendations for the future.