A non-governmental organization, Tomorrow is a Girl Initiative (TIG), has regretted the alarming rate of Female Genital Mutilation, FGM in Ebonyi state despite efforts by stakeholders.
The group said the practice is prevalent in Abakaliki local government area of the state.
Lucy Ogodo, the founder of TIG said over 10 school girls were mutilated between September to October 2025.
She disclosed this after the arrest of a perpetrator, Aboke Uzoamaka from Ndiegu Okpoitumo community in Abakaliki Local Government Area.
Lucy said,”Every local government was doing public declaration so that they will tick the mark of the government. So, we realised that any community we go to, traditional rulers will tell you they want to do public declaration and they will gather and do public declaration.
“But what I noticed is that on the surface, they will do public declaration but inside the communities, the practice still persists.
“So, I am now beginning to ask, did we do our due diligence before the public declarations or did the public declarations come first and now shield us from meeting the people who need to hear this because the traditional ruler is one person but the villagers are individuals and they have their own mindset and they also need to be transformed as well.
“We got information that led to the arrest of this lady and she has promised to change. I don’t know how we are Fgm free and in one community, Ndiegu Okpuitumo, Abakaliki local government area in less than one month, we’re recording 10 cases. how FGM free are we or are we just deceiving ourselves?, Lucy queried.
The suspected mutilator, Aboke Uzoamaka who was arrested was made to sign an undertaking before the police at Eke-Aba police station, Abakaliki not to practise the act anymore.
Aboke, a 26-year-old, patent medicine dealer and a mother of three girls said she was not aware that the practice was an offence in the state.