In-laws Declare Wife Wanted For Refusing To Circumcise Daughter

A mother’s  attempt to prevent her daughter from being subjected to the outlawed tradition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has put her on the wanted list of her in-laws.

Omolola Simbi Oke  and her three children and are currently on the run in a bid to save her daughter’s life owing to her refusal for her daughter (Eniola) to be circumcised in accordance with the custom and tradition of her husband’s family.

Seun Oke, Omolola’s husband (who is also on the run for fear of what his family might do to him for conspiring with his wife to runaway) told our reporter on phone that his wife and children are on the run to avoid his first child and only daughter from being circumcised.

He narrated how he worshipped the deities when he was young and participated in the rituals until he became a Christian and moved to Lagos for greener pastures and especially when he realizes that his family was not happy with his decision.

“My family didn’t speak much to me until I got married because I became a Christian. Meanwhile, I didn’t bother to inform my wife about our deities because I assumed it doesn’t really matter anymore and it was my wife that brought my family and I close again. My father is a staunch Muslim and the chief worshiper of the Ajana Oro deity in the town of Idiroko in Ogun Stateof Nigeria.

“Our problems started in 2016 when my father convinced me to come with my family to visit him so he can meet his grandchildren, this I agreed to do not knowing he has other plans. My father called my wife and I after the Christmas celebration and informed us that as a family tradition, the first daughter of their sons must be circumcised before they turned 6 as required by customs from time immemorial once they are 4years of old. I didn’t argue with my father and made a sign to my wife not to say anything. We waited another two days before going back to our base so that my father will not suspect that we are not going to allow our daughter to be deformed in anyway.

“On Sunday March 19,, 201 7 to be precise, four members of my family arrived at our house from Idiroko unannounced. They met my wife and children but my wife called to inform me of their presence and I rushed home. They lied that my father asked them to bring my wife and children to the village for the new yam festival. I informed them that I know their plan and will not allow my daughter anywhere near my village.

“Before we knew what was happening, my uncle had grabbed our daughter and tried to run inside the bus they came with. My wife and I started shouting and calling for neighbours and passersby to come to our aid.  The quick intervention of people stopped my family especially my uncle and brother from taking away our daughter.

“I had to meet with my lawyer who assisted us by making my wife and children go into hiding. They are where my father and his tradition cannot get to. I know there is a law forbidding female circumcision but our lawmakers and security agents’ needs to pay more attention and stop saying it is a family matter when victims like us run to them for protection. My wife and children are now on my family’s wanted list just because of this archaic tradition . I also don’t have a permanent address for now because I am on the run from my family too. The worst of the situation is that we are giving the outside world the impression that such does not exist in Nigeria anymore.” Seun explained.

As far back as 2002, there were talks by the Nigerian legislature to outlaw FGM and impose a two year jail term for offenders, although it allows for an option of a fine of 100 dollars or the imposition of both a fine and incarceration of six months.

The bill was actually unanimously passed by the House of Representatives in 2001 before it was sent to the Senate to pass the bill.

Reports said the Senate was expected to conclude its deliberations on the bill in May of 2002 and then send it to the then President Olusegun Obasanjo for his assent. It is however unclear what happened and the bill was not passed as projected.

Finally, after much delay, the Senate recently finally put words to action and passed the bill to criminalize FGM. The bill which is called ‘Violence against Persons (Prohibition)’ seeks to prohibit female circumcision or genital mutilation, forceful ejection from home and harmful widowhood practices.

Sponsored by the then Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba, the bill was also intended to eliminate violence in private and public life and provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims of violence, and punishment of offenders.

The bill also prohibits forced isolation, depriving persons of their liberty, economic abuse, incest, separation from family and friends, substance attack and indecent exposure, among others.

However, despite a law clearly stating the government’s position against the practice, lack of enforcement has been the bane of it.  Also, the refusal to accept that the disadvantages and dangers posed by FGM is another problem.

So, with the law criminalizing FGM and the laws passed by the legislature, is it that our community leaders and traditional rulers have decided to ignore the law and are still supporting female circumcision in a way?

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) otherwise known as circumcision is an invasive and painful surgical procedure that is often performed without anaesthesia on the girl-child before puberty. It is an old traditional practice still being practiced in parts of Nigeria, making it one of the 27 countries in Africa where FGM is still being celebrated secretly.