A member of the ‘Gender Frontier Development Initiatives’ (GFDI), Orikogbo Segun Felix has narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by some hoodlums in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
More than three times, Felix has escaped assassinations by the suspected hoodlums who were deeply involved in genital mutilation.
Felix, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists said some yet-to-be-identified masked hoodlums invaded his house at Zone 10c Abusoro, Akure around 9pm over his campaign against female genital mutilation in Ondo state.
Recall that Felix, a member of the association had been calling on all the stakeholders in the state to step up campaign on awareness creation and sensitisation of the society to ensure zero tolerance in the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), was attacked in his house in March, 2, 2023
According to him, girls who undergo female genital mutilation face-term complications such as severe pains, shock, excessive bleeding, infections and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health, and mental health.
He maintained that FGM comprises all the procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non medical reasons and is recognised internationally as a violation of human rights, the health and integrity of girls and women.
“We, however, urge stakeholders to accelerate steps towards stopping this practice, by adopting coordinate and systematic efforts, promoting polices and positive actions leading to the elimination of female genital mutilation, while engaging communities with focus on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences,” he said.
Surprisingly, according to him, it seems his campaign against the female genital mutilation in the state was not well with some people which led to these yet-to-be-identified masked hoodlums invaded his house in order to make an attempt to assassinate him.
According to him, despite the attack and an attempt to assassinate him, the group (GFDI) would continue to frown at the female genital mutilation in the state and Nigeria as a whole.
He said, “We would continue to collaborate with the stakeholders to ensure total eradication of this female genital mutilation in our state and by extension throughout the country.”
Felix, however, described the attack on him by the hoodlums as an act of cowardice, insisting that the practice, female genital mutilation was not only archaic, but also violated the rights of female children and urged people to desist from such.
0 Comments