BY SYLVANUS. ODIGIE
A mother of three, Mrs Evelyn Obazee is at her desperate end.She is pleading passionately with all who are concerned about the plight of the girl- child to help save her life and that of her three daughters who are facing the dangers of forcible female genital mutilation.
Mrs Obazee who hails from Amagba in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, says her husband’s family goaded by the elders of the community are demanding that she presents her teenage daughter, Jennifer Osawonamen Obazee(17)for the traditional ritual of female circumcision before she turns 18 years of age in April 2025.
” They, my husband’s people and the elders are insisting that my teenage daughter, Jennifer must be circumcised before she attains 18 years of age. I told them that as a mother who once experienced the physical pain and psychological trauma of female circumcision , that I would not agree.
“Since I made my position known to them in sometimes in March 2023, they have resorted to threatening me and my daughter”.
Mrs Obazee said her husband is helpless as his father is the Odionwere) Clan Head) of Amagba Community which makes it impossible for to disagree with their demand.
Although, she acknowledges that the practice has been part of the age long tradition of Amagba Community, the embattled mother of three daughters said circumcision would inflict bodily injury in the most sensitive part of her daughter’s body.
“I know it’s part of the tradition in our community that girl child should be circumcised either at infancy or before she attains adulthood. But the practice is dagngerous,and no loving mother would assent to it. No, they won’t circumcise my daughter. I would rather die than see it happen”,she said with tearful eyes.
Mrs Obazee said she has two other daughters, Lawrenta Iyobosa Obazee (15) and Aisosa Divine Obazee(12) .She said if they suceed in circumcising her eldest daughter,, then the same fate would befall the other girls who are still in their teens.
She said her husband abandoned their home after she refused to yield to the demand by his family.
” My husband left me and the girls just because I said no that my girls would not be subjected to such crude and archaic practice as female genital mutilation.
Mrs Obazee said her fears over the issue became more intense after she had a serious fight with her mother-in- law on 15th May, 2024. She called me unprintable names, alleging that I want to destroy the family’s reputation.
“She threatened to kill me and my daughters. Surprisingly, a few days after the altercation, I had a fatal accident on May 20th 2024 which almost claimed my life”, Mrs Obazee said.
She regretted that the police have failed to act on a report she made on the ground that the issue is a family feud and one that borders on tradition.
She lamented that her life and that of her daughters are in danger because of the threats by her husband’s people.
“I fear greatly that something ominous would happen to me and my daughters. My husband’s people say my refusal to present them for circumcision would jeopardize their position in the community. They are desperate to eliminate us to save them the embarrassment “, she narrated.
Female Genital Mutilation is a contentious subject that has gained international attention both from State and non- state actors over the years.
Earlier definitions of FGM sees it as female circumcision; however, Female Genital Mutilation was defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children Education Find(UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund ( UNFEPA) as “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitals or other injury to the female genital organs– for cultural or non- therapeutic reasons”.
The practice of FMG is deeply rooted in gender inequality; a violation of the fundamental human right of the girl child.
It’s carried out by traditional midwives who attempt to control women’s sexuality and ideas about purity and chastity.
In May 2015, the Federal Government of Nigeria passed a law banning Female Genital Mutilation and Harmful Practices.
Although, Female Genital Mutilation has been outlawed in some parts of Nigeria, the practice has remained an integral part of the Benin tradition and custom.
Female members of the family are usually subjected to excruciating pains associated with female genital mutilation which is performed with crude sharp objects in unhygienic environment.
Quite often, the practice has resulted in the deaths of the girl child during or days after the circumcision exercise.
This explains why many parents do not want their girl child to be circumcised.
A girl child advocate, Mrs Franca Umoru says Female Genital Mutilation is a crime against the female gender. She noted that while the state government has enacted a law abolishing the practice of female circumcision, many families and communities still cherish and practise it.
“It’s something that is rooted in tradition of the people, that is the reason most mother’s are fighting a Herculean battle over female circumcision”, Mrs Umoru said.
A legal practitioner, Barrister Jude Ogbeiwi says the practice which denies women their right to enjoy sex and poses health challenges to them, also thrives because there is low level of enforcement of the law and other legal frameworks which protects the rights of the girl child.
On her part, Hon. Justice Nogi Imoukhuede in a paper titled ” FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM: A CRIME IN EDO STATE”, described FGM as a cultural practice that has been with Edo people from time immemorial.
“The cultural belief is that FGM prevents sexual promiscuity and promotes chastity in women. We now know that this myth is a harmful belief that militates against women’s health in Nigeria.
It’s against this backdrop that Mrs Obazee is seeking the intervention of girl child advocates to save her life and that of her three daughters whose fate now hangs precariously in the balance.
Photo Caption: Mrs Evelyn Obazee and her three daughters ..Jennifer, Lawrenta and Divine.