It probably started as a very discreet act among few women in the country some years back. Then, these women would connive with some accomplices to dispose of new born babies immediately they are delivered (usually at some illegal maternities)to those looking for babies.

Many would still remember Mary Obikoya, of the 'Miracle Baby' saga which dates back to mid 1995 in which a 65-year-old 'Alhaja' and another Mrs. Kikelomo Ajayi had a running tussle over her as being the biological mother.

The story made cover story that ran for weeks on NTA's News line by Abike Dabiri (now in the House of Representatives)as well as front pages of prominent newspapers because it all happened at a maternity home on Victoria Street in Ojota, Lagos.

There was also the case of one Pastor Mrs. Gift of the Good Shepherd Orphanage, Okota Lagos, who allegedly specialised in keeping pregnant young girls in her home and purportedly sold off their babies when they are delivered.

Again, there was the case of a medical doctor in a South East state who also perpetuated the sale of babies delivered by young mothers and others who need money in exchange for a baby.

Ever since, there has been a surge in the atrocities by women to either sell or buy babies from various sources.

Recently, the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP)lamented increase in the number of maternity homes involved in the sale of babies in the South East.

According to the story, Mrs. Ijeoma Okoronkwo, Zonal Director of NAPTIP, told newsmen in Enugu that the organisation had discovered cases of maternity homes involved in babies' sale spreading in the five states of the South East.

Okoronkwo said Abia State was the worst hit, because NAPTIP officials had discovered that the issue of baby sale in the name of adoption was common among the people everywhere they visited in the state.

She reportedly mentioned Ohafia, Obi-Ngwa and Bende as among the areas in Abia where the issue of baby sale was rampant.

What could be going wrong with our psyche as a people on the value for human dignity?

When babies are put up for sale, either on the grounds of poverty or for want of children, one goes out to buy (after all one man's poison could be another's ....)does it ever crosses the mind of either the seller or the buyer that they may be selling or buying a time bomb? If either is caught, there is a criminal case hanging in the air!

What future has a child that is sold (like a cheap article or commodity bought in the open Sankowa or Katangowa market Jeez!)in the event of an untoward incident that needs medical assistance only the biological mother or father can provide?

It is difficult to fathom if people ever think beyond the immediate gains. Honestly, we need a helping hand soonest before this phenomenon gets out of hand in our nation!