On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, social media was abuzz with a seemingly heartwarming tale shared by a user, @_agneeess, recounting an unidentified woman’s journey to motherhood through what is known as “Cryptic Pregnancy.”

Also read: ‘I admit’ Nigerian lecturer pleads guilty to romance scam

This rare phenomenon involves a person being unaware of their pregnancy until a late trimester or even the onset of labour.

The story gained traction as congratulations poured in, celebrating the joyous occasion. However, the narrative took a dark turn when Dr. Olusina Mike, a medical professional and prominent social media figure with over 155,000 followers, intervened.

Dr. Olusina reposted @_agneeess’ content and vehemently denounced Cryptic Pregnancy as a fraudulent practice prevalent in many Nigerian hospitals.

He alleged that it serves as a cover for the illicit act of stealing babies, contributing to the growth of clandestine baby factories in Nigeria.

In his post, Dr. Olusina detailed the alleged modus operandi of these unscrupulous practitioners.

He claimed that women desperate for children are targeted, injected with hormones simulating pregnancy symptoms, and coerced into exclusive reliance on the specific hospital’s services.

Furthermore, he asserted that these hospitals claim exclusivity in conducting scans, ensuring that no other medical facility can verify the pregnancy.

Disturbingly, Dr. Olusina contended that on the day of delivery, these individuals are administered anesthesia, facilitating the illicit act of stealing babies under the guise of a woman experiencing Cryptic Pregnancy.

He concluded by referencing an investigative report by an online investigative news platform exposing this criminal practice, adding credibility to his assertions.

To support Dr. Olusina’s claims, an anonymous medical practitioner corroborated aspects of the story to Freelanews. When asked about the veracity of Dr. Mike’s claims, she replied,”Siirrrrrrr! Looks like… I was introduced into it and…😁”

While she couldn’t confirm the criminal act of stealing babies, she discredited the concept of Cryptic Pregnancy.

According to her, she contacted one of these establishments on behalf of a client who sought an alternative to in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

The medical professional shared disturbing details, including the insistence on exclusive scans, mandatory antenatal visits to their office, and an alarming protocol where the hospital dictates the location of childbirth, often undisclosed until the day of delivery.

She added that women undergoing this process are allegedly unaware of their labour onset, only discovering it during antenatal care and being promptly taken to a partner hospital for immediate delivery.

That last part of putting to sleep and stolen babies, I’ve not gotten hold on that. But I had called them for one of my clients that I convinced to do it as an alternative to IVF, I was told that:
only their scan can see,
Antenatal must be in their office
They will be the one to take the delivery, which can be done in any hospital of their choice.
I asked why it’s so, the lady said, they have some hospitals that they partner together and those are they places where those babies can be delivered and you can’t know where your baby will be delivered until then.
Also, the pregnant woman will not know she is into labour, she can just go for ANC and will be taken straight to the hospital that they have to deliver the baby that day.

“That’s why I said… Looks like,” she concluded.

The revelation sheds light on a deeply unsettling practice that not only exploits the vulnerability of women desperate for motherhood but also raises serious concerns about the ethical standards and legal oversight of certain medical establishments in Nigeria.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.