Osun Community Declares End to Female Genital Mutilation, Vows to Report Offenders
Residents of Akinlalu in the Ife North area of Osun State have formally pledged to abandon the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and to report anyone caught perpetrating it to security agencies.
The commitment was announced during a community sensitisation programme organised by Action Health Incorporated (AHI), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The event, held in Akinlalu and attended by residents, traditional leaders, youth groups, and health stakeholders, aimed at strengthening community-level efforts to eliminate the harmful practice.
In a statement issued on Friday in Osogbo, AHI Programme Officer, Fatima Idris, noted that the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to promote health, safety, and the protection of girls and women across Osun communities.
Speaking at the event, the Alakinlalu of Akinlalu, Oba Israel Oluwabusola, reaffirmed the community’s united decision to end the practice and collaborate fully with authorities to enforce the law.
“As the monarch of this town, I have talked to my people and we all have agreed to end the practice of FGM in this community,” he said.
“We will continue to work with the NGO, health officials and security operatives to ensure that nobody engages in this harmful practice, and anyone caught will be handed over to the law enforcement agency.”
The monarch also highlighted past misconceptions about health complications linked to the practice.
“Our forefathers were not aware then that the issue of stillbirth was due to complications from mutilating female genitals.
The danger there is too much,” he said.
Oba Oluwabusola expressed appreciation to Action Health Incorporated and UNFPA for bringing the sensitisation programme to Akinlalu, adding that the initiative represents “a major step toward ensuring better health outcomes” for the community.
The development marks another milestone in the ongoing campaign against FGM in Osun State, which has been one of the states with sustained advocacy and interventions aimed at protecting the rights and wellbeing of girls and women.
