For her refusal to surrender her twin daughters for Circumcision, Mrs. Sarah Oluwakemi Amawu-Charles, is facing persecution in the hands of Evbuobonosa community in Orhionwon Local government area of Edo state, Mrs. Olaiya Olutimenyi, the victim’s sister has alleged.
Mrs. Olutimenyi, who stated this in a message sent to journalists in Abuja, explained how the community has caused the family of Mrs. Amawu-Charles untold hardship as she resists the community’s attempt to make her comply with the act of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which is a common rite of passage for female children in the community.
According to Mrs. Olutimenyi the search for safety has caused her sister to flee and stay away from the community with her daughters and a son in a safe haven thereby causing separation and anguish for the entire family.
Narrating the ordeal facing her sister, Mrs. Olutimenyi said that at the birth of the twins, it was expected by tradition that the two girls must be circumcised but the mother in agreement with the husband refused to bow to the traditional rite of passage which they considered to be a health hazard for girls.
“Although the family had a reprieve for a while, the community was relentless in their demand and when the girls turned ten, the pressure became unbearable for the family and they had to flee and stay away to save their lives.” Mrs. Olutimenyi said.
Continuing, Mrs. Olutimenyi said that their family is experiencing severe challenges of living happily as one because of the stress caused by the separation of members. Explaining that it is difficult for her to understand why such a barbaric, inhuman and harmful traditional practice is still promoted. Mrs. Olutimenyi said many traditional institutions are not listening to the campaign to stop FGM.
