In a horrifying revelation, authorities in Nigerias Anambra State have uncovered a massive scam involving fake pregnancies and illegal clinics exploiting vulnerable women. These clinics prey on women by making false promises of motherhood, taking advantage of societal pressure and stigmas surrounding infertility.Nigeria, a country with one of the highest birth rates globally, places immense societal pressure on women to conceive. Women unable to bear children often face discrimination, abuse, and ostracism, leaving them desperate for solutions. The scam targeted this desperation, offering fraudulent fertility treatments at exorbitant costs while creating a facade of hope.One victim, Chioma, shared her harrowing ordeal, claiming she believed she was pregnant for 15 months, only to discover it was a cruel deception.Investigation uncovers the shocking truthBBC Africa Eye conducted a year-long undercover investigation, posing as a couple seeking fertility treatment. Their efforts exposed clinics staffed by impostors posing as medical professionals, offering dubious treatments like mysterious injections and concoctions. These methods caused abdominal swelling, mimicking pregnancy and fueling false hope among women.Women were discouraged from seeking legitimate medical advice, as the scammers falsely claimed ultrasounds or tests could not detect the “baby” supposedly growing outside the womb.Deceptive deliveriesWhen the time for delivery approached, women were charged extra for “rare and expensive medication” to induce labor. Some victims were sedated and woke up with surgical scars, believing they had undergone a caesarean delivery. Others were injected with substances that clouded their judgement, making them think they had given birth.In February 2024, health officials raided several such clinics, including one run by a woman known as Dr. Ruth operating from a dilapidated hotel in Ihiala town. Charging 350,000 Naira ($205) per treatment, she promised motherhood without any medical basis. The raids revealed the widespread extent of this predatory scam, bringing the horrific practices to light.
