IMO GOVT INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO END FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

Plans are on to strengthen the law against female genital mutilation to protect women and the girl child. The Special Assistant to the wife of Imo State Governor (Mrs. Ebere Ihedioha) on Programmes and Communications, Mr. Martin Onyegbado, gave the indication at a State Technical Committee Meeting on Female Genital Mutilation Abandonment held in Owerri.

He said the laws would strengthen the existing legislation and punish men who give consent for the mutilation of the genitalia of their girl child. Mr. Onyegbado appealed to religious bodies and the civil society to join the campaign against the practice, which he described as primitive and inhuman.

The State Director National Orientation Agency, Mr. Vitus Ekeocha, said the essence of the meeting was to review the activities of the agencies implementing programmes on female genital mutilation and strategize on how to eradicate the practice. Mr. Ekeocha said though no one has been prosecuted for female genital mutilation, efforts were being intensified to ensure that perpetrators were brought to book.

He noted that Ikeduru and Oguta Local Government Areas would soon join Ngor Okpala Local Government Area in making public declaration against female genital mutilation.

CHINAZO ILECHUKWU