Uche Henry
A house wife, Mrs. Justina Osemene, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to protect her family over alleged plans by her husband’s kinsmen to mutilate her two daughters’ genitals.
The children are reported to be between ages seven and four, respectively.
The lady has, however, cried out for police protection, saying the move was capable of causing a lifelong effect of emotional and psychological trauma for the children.
The middle-aged woman, of Yoruba extraction, in her early thirties, while narrating her ordeal to newsmen from her husband’s kinsmen in Aniocha, Delta State, explained that her parents believed that marriages were meant to bridge cultural gaps which informed their decision to consent to the marriage
‘‘Inter tribal marriages to the Yoruba is considered a taboo due to the fear of practices by the other tribes, but my parents being liberal people agreed with me to marry a man outside my tribe with no fear of culture clashes or absurd norms because they believed it breeds peaceful co existence and exposure to other cultures.”
Giving further insights into the act, Mrs. Osemene said her husband had, four months ago, informed her of his kinsmen decision to circumcise the children as part of rites of the husband becoming a white cap Chief being the first Son, a decision the husband vehemently rejected.
‘‘Only recently again, he was notified that he has until January 2019 to present the kids for “cutting”.
It is believed that this traditional practice prevents the girls from becoming promiscuous and would protect the family honour, hygiene, and their virginity.
This age-long tradition according to her, is believed to increase sexual pleasure of their future husbands to enhancing fertility, lamenting that, her children cannot be subjected to the inhumane act, as it can expose them to hemorrhage, infection, acute urinary retention and damage to the urethra or anus.
‘‘I was never subjected to this kind of wicked act and I am certainly not going to subject my beautiful daughters who did not choose to be a part of this barbaric tradition partake in this .
My Husband, though a practicing Christian, still values the traditional rites of his people and he is in line to take over his father’s position still refuses to heed.
“I fear for the safety of my family as they may device other means to ensure they carry out what they have demanded for,’’ she decried.
Mrs. Osemene’s husband could not be reached on telephone as at time of filing this report, but a member of the husband’s family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that there was nothing wrong in what their son was asked to do to his daughters, saying it was part of the customs of the land.
According to the man who claimed he was a farmer, “I don’t know why the woman is making noise about this issue. It is part of our customs and traditions and since her husband is in line to the title, it is mandatory for his daughters to the circumcised.
“No woman would teach us what to do in our land and no woman would come today to change what had been the pratice of our forebears for centuries. I hear that the man even is complaining but he should know this that it is our custom considering the title before him”
Recall that the United Nations Secretary- General’s Envoy on Youth, Jayathma Wickramanayake, had at a recent international forum in the Gambia on strategies to combat the practice said female genital mutilation was not acceptable in the 21st century.
The United Nations envoy had underscored that the ghastly practice is an aversion to the human rights of millions and keeps them from achieving their full potential.