Ebonyi State Considers 5-Year Jail Term For Female Genital Mutilation

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Ebonyi State Considers 5-Year Jail Term For Female Genital Mutilation

Ebonyi State Government has issued a warning to anyone who practices female genital mutilation saying a jail term of five years awaits such person.

The warning was handed out on Tuesday during the flag-off of the campaign against female genital mutilation in the state at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki.

In her speech at the occasion, Governor Dave Umahi's wife described female genital mutilation as a harmful traditional practice against womanhood, which must end.

"We can't continue to live in dark ages at the detriment of our women in the name of female circumcision or genital mutilation," she said.

''Our women have suffered a lot in this traditional harmful practices against them and we must stop it, we must wage serious war against the practice.
''A situation where women reproductive organs are butchered in the name cultural practices is no longer unacceptable."

She noted that in Nigeria, Ebonyi ranks second after Osun State, with 74% prevalence rate of female genital mutilation.

Mrs. Umahi said that informed her decision to campaign against the practice through her pet project, Family Succour and Upliftment Programme.

Mrs. Umahi said she would soon approach the state house of Assembly to amend the law against the practice.