…as family goes into hiding
By Kolawole Olakunle
A group, Egbado Health-Is-Wealth, has taken on elders in Ilaro, Ogun State, over the decision of the community that female daughters should undergo circumstition.
In a press statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Akinwale Oyenusi, the group described the act of female circum station as not only barbaric but out of tune with modern reality.
In the statement obtained by sharpedgenews.com, the group averred, “We are appalled, to say the least, about this barbaric and inhuman attitude of circumcising female children, especially the first one in this community.
“We make bold to say that this act cannot stand anywhere in the world. We feel that it should stop and that is exactly what we are impressing on all communities that embrace the practice.
In the statement, the group particularly expressed worry about the plight of a native, Mr. Oluwaseun Idowu, who had been directed by his royal family to submit his female daughter for circumstition or face the consequences.
“Again, we take exception to this, and call on people of conscience to wade it.
According to it, Idowu and his family members had fled their home, for fear of being used for native cult ritual, for failing to comply with the directive.
The group quoted a letter dated September 1, 2017, written by the Idowu royal family in Ilaro, and signed by its secretary, Mr Muritala Balogun, as saying, “It is the family tradition and culture to perform circumstition and ritual rites to first female child born int the family at eight years old…”
In the letter, the family had summoned Idowu to Ayelala shrine to take an oath. Sharpedgenews gathers that invitation to Ayelala shrine is often followed by either strange incurable ailment or death.
The group thus called on communities with such practices to disembark, noting that rights groups in the society “have cried themselves hoax.”
It also lamented that while government is full of advocacy, it had never taken any practical step to halt the evil of female child circumstition.