A popular Nigerian doctor and health influencer, Chinonso Egemba, widely known as Aproko Doctor, has raised an alarm over a growing scam targeting women desperate to conceive.
According to Aproko Doctor, fraudsters posing as medical professionals administer hormone injections to women to mimic pregnancy symptoms. Victims are discouraged from undergoing ultrasound scans and are later handed babies they never carried, in what he described as a “criminal racket.”
“There is a pregnancy scam going on. If there is a pregnancy, it will be seen on an ultrasound. Women are being pumped full of drugs to simulate pregnancy and told not to do scans. Then they are handed babies,” Aproko Doctor wrote on his official social media handle.
The warning gained traction following a viral testimony by former Big Brother Naija star Bambam, who claimed that a woman in her church carried a pregnancy for over three years before delivering, calling it “God’s miracle.” Medical experts have warned that such claims are scientifically impossible, as human gestation typically lasts about nine months.
Following the viral post, Dr Olusina Ajidahun, known as The Bearded Dr Sina, resurfaced earlier warnings from 2023 about fraudulent practices referred to as “cryptic pregnancies.” He explained that some clinics exploit women by giving hormone injections to induce pregnancy-like symptoms, showing fake ultrasound scans, and charging large sums of money for the procedures.
Dr Ajidahun added that on the supposed delivery day, women may be sedated and handed babies they never carried, highlighting the human trafficking aspect of the scam.
“Desperate women are being exploited in the name of hope,” he said.
Investigations by BBC Africa Eye in November 2024 corroborated these claims. Their report detailed how women, including teenagers, were held against their will in facilities posing as fertility clinics. Victims reported experiencing nausea, vomiting, and swollen limbs caused by hormone injections. They were denied access to second medical opinions and were ultimately handed babies believed to have been trafficked.
Medical experts describe the scam as a well-organised cartel, often referred to as “baby factories,” which preys on vulnerable women under the guise of fertility treatments. The practice is said to exploit cultural and social pressures surrounding infertility in Nigeria, leaving victims financially drained and emotionally devastated.
Authorities have been urged to investigate and clamp down on such fraudulent clinics. Experts stress that women should seek evidence-based medical care from verified health professionals and avoid unverified miracle claims or unsolicited treatments.
The resurfacing of these warnings, coupled with viral social media testimonies, has highlighted the urgent need for public awareness. Aproko Doctor and other medical practitioners continue to caution women against falling for these deceptive practices, emphasizing the importance of science-backed medical guidance over unverified claims.
