Seven arrested for alleged female genital mutilation

The police yesterday arrested seven persons in Ebonyi State for alleged female genital mutilation (FMG).

Governor David Umahi ordered the arrest.

FMG has been outlawed in the state.

The arrest followed the report of alleged female genital mutilation of 11 children at Okpuitumo in Abakaliki Local Government.

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The Nation learnt that one of the victims, Miss Nnedimma Simeon Obeji of Obegu-Omege Okpuitumo, was forcefully circumcised by two women, which resulted in severe bleeding.

She was rescued by a non–governmental organisation (NGO), the Child Protection Network, led by Mrs. Flora Egwu, following a tip-off.

The NGO, it was gathered, took the 16-year-old girl to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA), where it was confirmed that she had passed through what was called FGM type 2.

The two women, who allegedly forcefully circumcised the victims, have been paraded at the Government House, Abakaliki.

The five parents of the girls, who allegedly gave their consent for the genital mutilation to be performed on their daughters, were also paraded.