By Ugwu Edith Nkechi
Communities in parts of Nigeria are allegedly threatening parents living abroad to return their female children for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), warning of banishment and social exclusion if they refuse, raising serious concerns about the safety of girls and the failure of law-enforcement agencies to intervene.
On December 13, 2018, Vanguard Newspaper reported the desperate plea of Mrs. Bukola Osukoya, who appealed to Nigerians to help save her 11-year-old daughter, Jolade, from in-laws allegedly determined to forcibly subject the child to FGM under the guise of family tradition. The case drew national attention to the persistence of the practice despite its illegality and well-documented health risks.
Years later, similar threats reportedly forced Andy Hungbo to flee with his wife, Tiwalayo Hungbo, and their newborn daughter after sustained pressure from their community to subject the child to FGM. Their disappearance was described by family sources as an act of survival. Tiwalayo, an FGM survivor, had previously endured discrimination and trauma, including the loss of her younger sister, Adesoye Osindero.
Adesoye reportedly died years later from complications linked to FGM after she and her sister were forcibly kidnapped and mutilated. The incident allegedly involved the complicity of senior security officers, highlighting the depth of the problem and the challenges faced by victims seeking justice. Before her death, Adesoye had reportedly rejected multiple marriage proposals while still a minor, openly resisting suitors—a stance that family sources say made her a target.
In an effort to protect his family, Andy Hungbo petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, reporting threats by the community to forcibly subject his daughter to FGM and other alleged human-rights violations. However, the Police have yet to investigate the petition, leaving the family without official protection.
Other survivors have shared similar experiences. Victoria Chinwendu Okoro was reportedly forced to undergo FGM carried out by untrained individuals, resulting in severe and long-term physical and psychological pain.
In another case, Mrs. Joy Odiche Chidiobi M., who attempted to protect her female children from the practice, was allegedly banished from her village in the presence of Police officers, underscoring what advocates describe as systemic failure to protect women and girls.
Human-rights activists warn that these cases point to a broader pattern of coercion and impunity. According to activist Peter Nsianya, FGM is neither culture nor tradition but a form of violence against women and girls that violates fundamental rights guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
International organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and UNFPA, classify FGM as a harmful practice with lifelong physical and psychological consequences. Advocates say communities that enforce the practice through intimidation, kidnapping, or social exclusion are committing abuse rather than preserving cultural values.
Parents and guardians living abroad are being advised by rights groups to remain in safe jurisdictions, document threats, and seek assistance from child-protection agencies, non-governmental organizations, and international human-rights bodies. Campaigners stress that staying abroad to protect a child is not an act of disobedience but a necessary measure to safeguard life and bodily integrity.
Until Nigerian authorities fully enforce existing laws and communities abandon practices that endanger girls, advocates say parents must prioritize the safety of their children over social or communal pressure.