Selling of placenta by desperate women who have just given birth is the booming trade in Abuja, a development which has reached alarming proportions. Chika Mbonu, a local midwife in Abuja said, "I was first approached by two middle aged men when I was in Akwanga in Nasarawa State two years ago; in fact that was the first time I heard of it. I was shocked to my bone marrow that I had to scream for them to leave my house immediately. It was after they left that I found out that they had already met one of my relatives who directed them to me and I had to start warning and enlightening all my patients never to give in to anyone who demands for their placenta for any amount." Dorcas Ochugbo, a resident of New Karu in Nasarawa, has also been approached by one of these merchants. "It was after the delivery of my second baby at one maternity home in Masaka. The woman came and offered me N500,000 for my placenta. When I asked what she needed it for, she claimed that she works for a cosmetics company who uses it for production of its products. I asked her to wait for my husband to come so they can discuss but she left and promised to come back and never returned. Also speaking on the issue, an Abuja based legal practitioner, Onuorah Chinanuekpere, said that section 216 (e) of the panel code law states that "whoever is in possession of or has control over any human remains which are used or are intended to be used in connection with the worship or invocation of any juju shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine or with both." "Hence going by the provisions of the law, it could be interpreted to mean that any person in possession of the placenta, which medical practitioners see as human remains, and is found to be using same for witchcraft or juju, should be penalized," he said. "This is the reason why medical doctors strictly urge mothers to bury same after child birth."