By Femi Obisesan
Ibadan, Nigeria
A distraught mother, Mrs. Olanrewaju Yetunde Fajingbesi, has raised alarm over repeated threats by her husband’s family to forcibly circumcise her 16-year-old daughter, Fajingbesi Oluwademilade Ayomide, despite firm objections from both mother and daughter.
Mrs. Fajingbesi revealed that her father-in-law, Chief Moheed Fajingbesi, a politically influential figure in Oyo State, has allegedly vowed that the teenager must undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) “to uphold family tradition and honour.”
The threats, she said, have escalated into attempted abductions and ongoing harassment, leaving the family in a state of fear and trauma.
“In December 2024, I was called to a family meeting where it was declared that my daughter must be circumcised. I refused, because I am a survivor of FGM myself and know the lifelong pain it causes,” she recounted.
Mrs. Fajingbesi disclosed that on February 26, 2025, she submitted a formal petition to the Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan, pleading for urgent protection. However, she claims that police officers advised her to treat the matter as a “family issue.”
“This is not a family misunderstanding. It is a criminal offence and a violation of my daughter's fundamental human rights,” she insisted.
According to Mrs. Fajingbesi, her daughter narrowly escaped two separate abduction attempts in March 2025. The first occurred on a Sunday morning while the family was on their way to church.
“A dark vehicle swerved and blocked our car. Two men jumped out and tried to drag my daughter away. We screamed for help, and nearby bystanders came to our rescue. It was terrifying,” she recalled.
Just days later, on March 12, 2025, another attempt was made while her daughter was walking to Leeds City University, Ibadan, where she had just begun her studies.
“Two unknown men pulled up beside her and asked if she was going to Leeds City. When she said yes, they told her to get in. When she refused, one of them got out and tried to force her into the car. She screamed and ran, narrowly escaping,” she said.
As a result of these traumatic experiences, Oluwademilade has been forced to abandon her education. Once an ambitious student with dreams of pursuing a career in media, she now lives in constant fear.
“She cries every night and refuses to go outside. Her life has been completely turned upside down,” her mother said tearfully.
FGM is a criminal offence under Nigerian law, specifically the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015 and the Child Rights Act of 2003. Nigeria is also a signatory to international conventions such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) both of which condemn the practice.
Yet, despite these protections, enforcement remains weak, particularly when influential figures are involved.
“My father-in-law has power, wealth, and political reach.That’s why the system is failing us,” Mrs. Fajingbesi claimed.
Mrs. Fajingbesi is now calling on the Nigerian government, civil society organizations, and international human rights bodies to intervene.
“I am begging for help. My daughter deserves to live in peace, not fear. She deserves a future,not trauma,” she pleaded.
As of the time of this publication, the Nigerian Police Force has yet to issue an official response to the allegations
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