‘The children are not safe here’: the Nigerian couple fighting infanticide

March 20, 2026·33 min·2 clips

A newborn baby was tied to her dead mother's body and prepared for burial until a missionary intervened at the last moment.

In rural Nigeria, traditional beliefs still dictate that children whose mothers die in childbirth are cursed and must be killed. Esther's story begins this harrowing account - born in 2007, she was tied to her dead mother's body for burial until a missionary intervened. The missionary brought her to Vine Heritage Home, run by Christian couple Olushola and Chimwe Stephens since 1996. Nigeria has the world's highest maternal mortality rate, with one in 100 women dying in childbirth, creating the conditions where these beliefs persist. The Stephens discovered children were being killed, poisoned, or buried alive in communities around Abuja. They established their foundation in 2004, which now houses over 200 children. Most residents are there because their mothers died giving birth, though twins and children with disabilities are also targeted. The couple works with local missionaries to rescue children, often arriving after families have already weakened them through poisoning or starvation. Esther grew up believing she was the Stephens' biological daughter until age 14, when her biological family visited. Learning the truth devastated her, especially discovering her family had never sought her out. The home moved to a larger EU-funded facility in 2018, with 18 staff providing round-the-clock care. Children like triplets Paul, Pauline, and Paulina arrive when parents fear for their safety. Reintegration proves challenging - 36 children have returned to families, but many struggle with language barriers and cultural differences. Some face real danger, like eight-year-old Monday, who was returned to the home after village elders questioned why he lived when others had killed their children. ActionAid has worked to change attitudes through indirect community development programs, achieving success in some villages. However, government denial hampers progress, with officials claiming ignorance of the practices. The home faces financial difficulties due to Nigeria's economic crisis, relying entirely on donations. Chimwe's health has deteriorated from years of caring for others while neglecting herself. The original vision of reintegrating children has largely failed, meaning the home continues growing. Olushola admits he never expected to care for more than 20 children but feels called by God to continue the work.

As heard by us

A stark, patient report on infanticide, secrecy, and denial.

This is a grim, careful account of a practice that treats some infants as cursed, and of the people trying to stop it. It follows Esther's rescue, the uneasy testimony of village authorities, and the wider pattern of secrecy, denial, and law.

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Hear how one rescued child opens a window onto a hidden infanticide practice around Abuja.

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