Baby traffickers thriving in Nigeria as recession bites

[WorldNews]

By Anamesere Igboeroteonwu and Tom Esslemont ENUGU, Nigeria/LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As 16-year-old Maria strained under the anguish of labor in southeastern Nigeria, a midwife repeatedly slapped her across the face - but the real ordeal began minutes after birth. A Thomson Reuters Foundation investigative team spoke to more than 10 Nigerian women duped into giving up their newborns to strangers in houses known as "baby factories" in the past two years or offered babies whose origins were unknown. Although statistics are hard to come by, campaigners say the sale of newborns is widespread - and they fear the illegal trade is becoming more prevalent with Nigeria heading into recession this year amid ongoing political turbulence.

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