…Two varsity students hospitalized
Two students of Ebonyi State University(EBSU) are currently on intensive care at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre (NOFIC), Abakaliki after undergoing Female Genital Mutilation(FGM).
This is also as a patent medicine dealer and parents of a victim of the illegal mutilation have been arrested in Ukwuagba, Ngbo community, Ohaukwu local government area of the state for mutilating a 16 year old girl, Charity in the area which also left her hospitalized and traumatized.
The state Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law stipulates four years imprisonment with or without N200,000 option of fine against perpetrators of FGM if convicted.
Those arrested are; Mrs. Onwe Oluchi the patent medicine dealer, Mr. Agbo Ekpa, Charity’s father and her mother Mary.
They were arrested following a petition by the legal Department of the state branch of National Orientation Agency(NOA).
Head of the Legal Department of the Agency, Barr. Theresa Ama had petitioned the state Commissioner of Police Awosola Awotinde after receiving a report from a traditional ruler in Ohaukwu local government of the 16 year old girl who was mutilated.
Thursday, the state Director of the Agency, Dr. Emma Abah confirmed the development while addressing students of Urban Model Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Ugwuachara, Ebonyi local government area of Ebonyi state during this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance against FGM.
He disclosed that two female students of Ebonyi State University are currently battling for survival at National Obstetrics Fistula Centre(NOFIC), Abakaliki following FGM complications.
Abah who urged the students not to allow anybody to mutilate them said: “two students of Ebonyi state University have already developed problems, but we have taken them to UNICEF. They are being treated at National Obstetrics Fistula Centre(NOFIC), Abakaliki free of charge.
“They were mutilated when they were young and now the problem developed. The problem may not be immediate. Ten years after, the problem starts. If you know any FGM victim who has any complication, any problem, send them to us quickly. A stitch in time saves nine.
“In Ukwuagba community, we took the victim for medical checks to the NOFIC. The Commissioner of police has given order that the perpetrators and parents of the victims be arrested.
On her part, HOD legal Department of the state NOA, Bar. Theresa Ama said “last week, we were called by a traditional ruler in Ohaukwu that some persons mutilated a child of 16 years. The next day we went there with the Police and got the perpetrators arrested. They are still in police custody for now. We arrested the parents and the cutter. The cutter is a patent medicine dealer, she sells drugs and she does the mutilation of genitals there in her patent medicine shop.
“So, the parents took the 16 year old girl forcefully and mutilated her. It is against the VAAP law and the Child Right Act. You don’t need to force a child to be mutilated. If the child says no, you must respect her no. But in this case, they forced the girl.
When we took the girl to the hospital for medical check, the Doctor confirmed that the girl was mutilated. And so, with that report, we went to the police and showed them the report and the parents of the victim and the cutter were arrested”.
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