Circumcision Nightmare; Lagos Businessman, Wife Flee Nigeria With Daughter

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A Lagos, Nigeria based businessman, Sikiru Oladeji Ogungbemi and his family have reportedly fled the country following alleged threats to their lives by traditionalists in Sikiru’s home town, Okoja in Ikare-Akoko area of Ondo State. Some members of their family were alleged to have connived with their tormentors in the matter.

According to insider sources, the businessman and his wife, Abosede Motunrayo left Nigeria hurriedly to Germany with their daughter, Sofia Feyitayomi where they sought asylum allegedly because the traditionalists in the man’s village insisted on circumcising their daughter.

The plight of the couple who wedded in 2012, in Lagos, we gathered, began last year during the annual Aringiya festival in their village, Okoja when the town oracle allegedly picked Sofia as one of the female children to be circumcised in accordance with the tradition of the ancient town.

Our sources said that, as a prelude of being taken to a shrine to be circumcised, the girl’s daughter had to dance naked round the village with her daughter.

This practice, the couple saw as barbaric and primitive being devout Christians. Therefore, the couple objected to the practice.

However, some members of their family who believed in the archaic culture allegedly threatened the couple to either submit to the practice or face sanctions.

Following their refusal, the traditionalists allegedly plotted to seize the child with the intention of carrying out the circumcision.

When hinted of the plot by insiders, this magazine learnt that the couple met with their pastor who advised them to leave the country to safety. Before then, we gathered that they reported the matter to the police but the effort did not help as the police allegedly failed to invite the accused traditionalists and family members.

 

-Folorunsho Hamsatgraphics-designer-pix