GIRL CIRCUMCISION: IMO MONARCH IMPOSES #10 THOUSAND FINE ON PERPETRATORS

A veteran Journalist and traditional ruler of Atta in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Joe Anika, has appealed to communities that are yet to outlaw female genital mutilation to urgently do so in the interest of the girl child.

Eze Anika, who made the call in Ikeduru during a meeting between officials of the National Orientation Agency and traditional rulers from the area, said the female circumcision was one of the obnoxious cultural practices that posed hazards to women.

According to the monarch, anybody caught mutilating the female genitalia in his community would among other sanctions pay a fine of ten thousand naira to serve as deterrent to others.

Eze Joe Anika explained that committees had been inaugurated to monitor maternity homes and families to forestall female circumcision.

The Imo State Director National Orientation Agency, Mr. Vitus Ekeocha, said the Agency was collaborating with UNICEF to end female genital mutilation in eight selected local government areas in Imo State.

Mr. Ekeocha called for an end to the practice, noting that circumcision of the girl child could cause keloid in the private part, uncontrolled bleeding and prolonged labour during child bearing.

The meeting, which was attended by traditional rulers and other leaders from twenty nine communities in Ikeduru, afforded the National Orientation Agency (NOA) an opportunity to assess the level of success recorded so far in the campaign.

CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

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