Woman in hiding, to protect daughters from forced circumcision

Mojisola Bello, a mother of four from Ijebu Aiyepe in the Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, has gone into hiding to protect her daughters from the threat of forced circumcision. In 2005, she tragically lost her second child to complications following the procedure just six weeks after birth. Now, nearly two decades later, her husband’s family is demanding that her surviving daughters undergo the same procedure, insisting that she has mourned long enough and must comply with tradition.

Despite the immense pressure, Bello refuses to submit. She has faced severe threats from the family, who claim that female circumcision is a moral obligation and an abomination if left undone. The family has warned that if she does not hand over her daughters willingly, they will be kidnapped and forcibly circumcised. Additionally, Bello’s life is in danger, as the family has threatened to kill her and her children if she continues to resist. Her husband has been given a few market days to comply with their demands.

In fear for her safety and that of her children, Bello has gone into hiding, determined to protect her daughters from the same fate that claimed her infant. Despite Nigeria’s laws prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), the practice remains entrenched in certain communities, where cultural beliefs often outweigh legal protections. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) of 2015 criminalises FGM, but enforcement is weak, leaving many girls vulnerable.

Bello is now urgently calling on authorities, human rights organizations, and the Nigerian government to intervene before it is too late. “I will not allow my daughters to suffer what my baby went through,” she said. “They deserve to live without fear.” Her case underscores the critical need for stronger enforcement of anti-FGM laws and better protection for women and children at risk.