In a harrowing incident that has reignited conversations around harmful traditional practices in Nigeria, a 38-year-old man, Mr. Abdulrahaman Abass Abiodun, narrowly survived a violent assault by his own family members in Lagos following his refusal to subject his newborn son to a controversial traditional ritual.
Mr. Abiodun had recently relocated his wife, Mrs Hammed Rukayat Temitope and children to 6, Lawrence Lane, off Ereko/Martins Street, Lagos Island, seeking refuge from ongoing threats and trauma associated with his extended family.
His decision followed several prior incidents of intimidation and cultural imposition. On October 2, 2022, he and his wife welcomed their newborn son — a moment that marked the beginning of a short-lived period of peace.
However, shortly after the child’s birth, members of Mr. Abiodun’s extended family learned of the news and began pressuring him to perform a longstanding family ritual.
According to Mr. Abiodun, the practice involves facial tribal markings and stomach cutting for male children, while female children are subjected to facial marks and circumcision — a dangerous and outdated custom believed by some in the family to serve as a form of “traditional DNA confirmation.”
“This practice has caused the deaths of several children in our family over the years,” Mr. Abiodun said. “I myself bear the scars — on my face and stomach. It left me traumatized throughout my childhood. I was mocked, I was in pain, and I was never the same. I won’t allow my son to suffer the same fate.”
On this day of October 14, 2022, the situation escalated when two relatives — Mr. Abdulrahaman Taofeek Adegboyega and Mr. Abdulrahaman Afeez Adebanji — allegedly acting under the directive of the family head, Chief Abdulrahaman Amoo Gbadamosi, stormed his home and demanded immediate access to the child to perform the ritual.
When Mr. Abiodun refused, a violent confrontation erupted. Armed with a cutlass, the assailants reportedly attacked him, inflicting deep wounds on his head and hand. Witnesses reported that his wife, their two daughters, and the newborn son managed to escape through the back door and sought safety in a neighboring apartment.
Alarmed by the noise and cries for help, local residents quickly gathered and intervened, preventing the situation from turning fatal. Mr. Abiodun was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received emergency treatment for his injuries.
The incident was formally reported to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID) Annex in Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, at approximately 11:05 a.m. that same day. The police have confirmed that an investigation is currently underway.
This case underscores the complex tension between cultural heritage and contemporary human rights in Nigeria. While certain customs are cherished for their historical value, critics argue that practices involving bodily harm or non-consensual rites — particularly those affecting children — are incompatible with modern legal and ethical standards.
As Mr. Abiodun recovers, advocacy groups are urging authorities to take swift action and to create more robust protections against harmful traditional practices. Child welfare organizations have also called for national legislation that criminalizes all forms of ritual-based violence and forced body modification.
At the time of this report, no arrests have been officially confirmed, though investigations remain active