Community leaders from 17 villages within the Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State have pledged to identify and bring to justice those responsible for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and their accomplices. Their commitment aims to ensure strict legal action against offenders.
During a one-day consensus-building workshop focused on eradicating FGM in the region, participants strongly denounced the practice, labeling it as both detrimental to health and a severe infringement on the rights of girls and women.
Organized by the Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), this event was part of a broader initiative titled “EndFGM in Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State.”
The gathering brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including traditional chiefs, community elders, law enforcement officials, leaders of local vigilante groups, and healthcare providers working within the communities.
One attendee, Celina Ogboso, recounted a personal story highlighting the dangers of FGM. She shared how her niece, whom she called Nneka, suffered severe health complications after undergoing the procedure during adolescence.
“Years ago, Nneka was subjected to circumcision. The procedure caused excessive bleeding, leading her to faint multiple times and visibly lose color in her skin,” Celina explained.
“Although medical intervention eventually stopped the bleeding, the damage was irreversible. When she later gave birth, she experienced prolonged labor that nearly cost her life.”
“Despite surviving, Nneka’s pregnancies have since been fraught with tragedy, resulting in repeated miscarriages and stillbirths. This painful experience has strengthened my resolve to oppose female circumcision in all forms.”
Eze Linus Nwizi, the traditional ruler of Ezza-Inymagu and vice chairman of the Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council, emphasized that the entire Izzi clan-which spans three local government areas: Abakaliki, Ebonyi, and Izzi-has begun collective efforts from their ancestral home in Amagu, Abakaliki, to ban FGM.
He urged his people to support the campaign wholeheartedly, promising that no effort will be spared in tracking down offenders and ensuring they face the full weight of the law.
