Despite aggressive public health campaigns and the legal weight of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains a hidden but persistent crisis in parts of Ogun and Oyo States.
The practice, deeply rooted in local tradition, continues to be enforced through a climate of fear, social exclusion, and physical violence directed at both young girls and the parents who attempt to protect them.
In many rural communities, FGM is viewed as an unavoidable rite of passage. Families who resist the custom often find themselves at odds with extended relatives and community elders who act as enforcers of tradition.
Girls who vocalize opposition are frequently subjected to beatings or are forcibly taken to traditional circumcisers. The pressure is equally intense for parents; those who refuse to comply are often accused of bringing dishonor to the family, facing harassment that can escalate into physical assault and forced displacement.
The human cost of this tradition was highlighted by a recent tragedy in the region, where a young girl reportedly bled to death following an infection contracted during the procedure.
Medical experts reiterate that the practice has no health benefits and leads to lifelong complications, including chronic pain, infertility, and severe psychological trauma.
One mother, speaking on condition of anonymity, described how her family was forced into hiding after her husband’s relatives threatened unspecified consequences when she refused to allow her daughter to be circumcised.
While Nigerian law criminalizes FGM, enforcement is hampered by a wall of silence in the affected areas.
Advocacy groups argue that legal prohibitions alone are insufficient without stronger community engagement and witness protection for vulnerable families.
For many in Ogun and Oyo, the choice to abandon the practice is not merely a medical decision but a dangerous stand against entrenched social expectations, leaving many families trapped between their children’s safety and communal survival.
