Female Genital Mutilation: A Nagging Issue Refusing To Die

Despite the advent of civilization in some African countries, some villages in Africa are still practicing their ‘culture’ which is inimical to human life and progress.

Practices which threaten sanctity of life, human existence in general owing to the cultural beliefs of a people, religion or customs is still prevalent in some hamlets in ‘rural’ Africa even if the cities wear modernity.

The story of the malnourished kid labeled as a wizard and abandoned and was rescued by a white tattooed woman is still everywhere in the internet and the tot now healthy and in school is one of such examples.

Another of such barbaric practices is the issue of female circumcision in Nigeria, better known as Female Genital mutilation (FGM).  Human rights activists and many enlightened individuals, non-governmental organisations are still battling this evil practice.

This practice like in some other parts of Nigeria is also done in Igboland, south east of the Niger.

Thus, it is with the rural village of Ihunakweagu in Enugu State. The tradition is as old as one can remember. Once a girl child clocks 15, it is mandatory that she be circumcised. As culture has it, the circumcision is an indication that the girl is a virgin and ripe for marriage to any young man. However, the consequence is dire for any girl who violates their laws. If she runs away and later returns at any other time, she will still be forcefully circumcised and must be given out in marriage to probably an old man as second or third wife or even a drunk or a man with deformity against her wish and wait for it, without no bride prize.

As a result of the after effect of the mutilation, a lot of girls have braved the odds and ran away. Some return and are dealt with.

Out of so many cases, the story of Amaka Nkemdilim Nkwor is instructive. As she grew, she witnessed how girls die and how many women cry whenever they give birth to a female. Most of the girls die of infection and some others out of dejection while some others who are forcefully married suffer all sorts of demonization, humiliation and are treated as outcast.

Amaka saw all these and somehow, few men of that community that have gone to town and have returned made efforts to enlighten the community heads about the danger inherent int their tradition.

As the advocacy continued, Amaka was happy hoping that soon, the age long wicked tradition would end as she has seen her close friends and even sister suffer from this wickedness.

Unfortunately, the plea of the few city men fell on deaf ears, immediately Amaka clocked 15, she fled to the city. At that tender age she couldn’t cope in the city as she had to endure hardship of every kind far too much for a girl of her age.

She somehow survived many attacks of abuse by men and even women who wanted to take advantage of her situation. Until, she could no longer bear the pain. She resigned to fate and returned home. She faced the fate of all others before her and suffered terribly for it. She bled for days accompanied by unbearable pain. The only thing they do after each circumcision is to clean them up with hot water. She was bedridden for a long time. As soon as she could walk, she fled again.

This time, no one knows. The last time she was seen was at the village Catholic church. And some villagers concluded that she had to run away since her own could not protect her. They didn’t know if she ran into the hands of kidnappers, child traffickers or even murderers just to stay alive and safe.

From all accounts, Amaka was last seen early October.

Despite the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan who in 2015 signed a federal law banning it, and the efforts of the present-day government in educating people about the hazard of such practice, it is still happening in some villages till this day.