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Genital mutilation of young girls sold for dark magic in Ivory Coast

When he was a witch doctor, Moussa Diallo would regularly smear himself in a lotion made from a clitoris cut from a girl subjected to female genital mutilation.

“I wanted to be a big chief, I wanted to dominate,” said the small but charismatic fiftysomething from northwest Ivory Coast.

“I put it on my face and body” every three months or so “for about three years”, said Diallo, who asked AFP not to use his real name.

Genitalia cut from girls in illegal “circumcision” ceremonies is used in several regions of the West African country to “make love potions” or magic ointments that some believe will help them “make money or reach high political office”, said Labe Gneble, head of the National Organisation for Women, Children and the Family (ONEF).

A ground-down clitoris can sell for up to around $170 (152 euros), the equivalent of what many in Ivory Coast earn in a month.

Diallo stopped using the unctions a decade ago, but regional police chief Lieutenant N’Guessan Yosso confirmed to AFP that dried clitorises are still “very sought after for mystical practices”.

And it is clear from extensive interviews AFP conducted with former faith healers, circumcisers, social workers, researchers and NGOs, that there is a thriving traffic in female genitalia for the powers they supposedly impart.

Many are convinced the trade is hampering the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM), which has been banned in the religiously diverse nation for more than a quarter of a century.

Despite that, one in five Ivorian women are still being cut, according to the OECD, with one in two being mutilated in parts of the north.

– Cut and mixed with plants –

Before he had a crisis of conscience and decided to campaign against FGM, Diallo said he was often asked by the women who performed excisions around the small town of Touba to use his powers to protect them from evil spells.

Female circumcision has been practised by different religions in West Africa for centuries, with most girls cut between childhood and adolescence. Many families consider it a rite of passage or a way to control and repress female sexuality, according to UN children’s agency UNICEF, which condemns cutting as a dangerous violation of girls’ fundamental rights.

Beyond the physical and psychological pain, cutting can be fatal, lead to sterility, birth complications, chronic infections and bleeding, not to mention the loss of sexual pleasure.

Diallo would often accompany the women who do the cutting out into the forest or to a home where dozens of girls would be circumcised, often surrounded by fetishes and sacred objects. So it was relatively easy for the former faith healer to obtain the precious powder.

“When they would cut the clitorises they would dry them for a month or two then pound them with stones,” he said.

The result was a “black powder” which was then sometimes mixed with “leaves, roots and bark” or shea butter that is often used in cosmetics.

They could then sell it for around “100,000 CFA Francs (152 euros) if the girl was a virgin” or “65,000 (99 euros) if she already had a child” or barter it for goods and services, Diallo added.

The ex-witch doctor said he was able to get some of the powder recently — a mix of human flesh and plants, he believes — from a cutter in his village.

AFP was shown the powder but was unable to analyse it without buying it.

– ‘Organ trafficking’ –

Former circumcisers interviewed by AFP insisted that clitorises cut from girls are either buried, thrown into a river or given to the parents, depending on local custom.

But one in the west of the country admitted some end up being used for magic.

“Some people pretend they are the girls’ parents and go off with the clitoris,” she said.

Witch doctors use them for “incantations” and sell them afterwards, she claimed.

Another circumciser said some of her colleagues were complicit in the trade, “giving (genitalia) to people who are up to no good” for occult purposes.

Mutilated when she was still a child, one victim told AFP that her mother warned her to bring home the flesh that had been cut.

The trade is regarded as “organ trafficking” in Ivorian law and is punishable — like FGM — with fines and several years in prison, said lawyer Marie Laurence Didier Zeze.

But police in Odienne, who are in charge of five regions in the country’s northwest, said no one has ever been indicted for trafficking.

“People won’t say anything about sacred practices,” lamented Lieutenant N’Guessan Yosso.

The cutters themselves are both feared and respected, locals told AFP, often seen as prisoners of evil spirits.

– ‘Just nuts’ –

“A clitoris cannot give you magical powers, it’s just nuts,” said gynaecologist Jacqueline Chanine based in the country’s commercial capital Abidjan.

Even so, the practice is still stubbornly widespread in some parts of the country, according to researchers.

Dieudonne Kouadio, an anthropologist specialising in health, was presented with a box of the powder in the town of Odienne, 150 kilometres north of Touba.

“It contained a dried cut organ in the form of a blackish powder,” he said.

His discovery was included in a 2021 report for the Djigui foundation, whose conclusions were accepted by the Ministry for Women.

Farmers in Denguele district, of which Odienne is a part, “buy clitorises and mix the powder with their seeds to increase the fertility of their fields”, said Nouho Konate, a Djigui foundation member who has been fighting FGM in the area for 16 years.

He said parents of young girls were “gutted” when he told them of the trafficking.

Further south and in the centre west of the country, women use clitoris powder as an aphrodisiac, hoping to prevent their husbands straying, said criminologist Safie Roseline N’da, author of a 2023 study on FGM which also pointed to the trade.

She and her two co-authors discovered that blood from cut women was also being used to honour traditional gods.

They are far from the only Ivorian folk remedies that use body parts, according to lawyer Didier Zeze.

– Mystic beliefs keeps it going –

“The mystic has a central place in daily life” in the Ivory Coast — where Islam, Christianity and traditional animist beliefs co-exist — said the Canadian anthropologist Boris Koenig, a specialist in occult practices there. “It touches every sphere of people’s social, professional, family and love lives,” he said, and there is generally nothing illegal about it.

The trade, however, is “one of the reasons that FGM survives” in the Ivory Coast, NGOs argue, where the rate of cutting is generally falling and is below the West African average of 28 percent, according to the OECD.

Back near Touba, the former witch doctor Diallo recalled how up to 30 women would be cut in a day in the places his magic protected.

The dry season between January to March was the favoured period for circumcisions, when the hot Harmattan wind from the Sahara helps scars heal, he said.

Staff at the region’s only social work centre say the cutting is still going on but hard to quantify because it never happens in the open.

Instead it goes on in secret, hidden behind traditional festivals which have nothing to do with the practice, kept going they say by circumcisers from neighbouring Guinea — only a few kilometres away — where FGM rates are over 90 percent.

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Troops neutralise 88 terrorists, arrest 228 persons in fresh onslaught

Troops have killed 88 suspects and arrested over 200 in one week

In a fresh onslaught against Boko Haram and Lakurawa terrorists, military troops have killed 88 suspects, arresting over 200 in one week.

Spokesman of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba, who made the disclosure, also said that troops also arrested 40 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 181 kidnapped hostages.

Buba said troops are on an onslaught to crush terrorists in the Northwest and other parts of the country.

He noted that operations are being modified accordingly, to box in these terrorists, while also increasing operational intensity to ensure total destruction of all terror groups and dismantling of their terror networks.

He added that troops are also deployed in strength to provide assistance to the police in ensuring a hitch free off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, slated for 16 November 16, 2024.

“Indeed, troops’ presence is to ensure security of citizens enabling them to cast their votes without any form of harassment or intimidation, while keeping mischief makers at bay. The NAF is already engaged in flying sensitive electoral material in support of INEC

“Meanwhile, during the week under review, troops neutralised 88 and arrested 228 persons. Troops also arrested 40 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 181 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Two Four Million Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty Naira (N1,021,412,950.00) only.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 84 assorted weapons and 2,393 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 34 AK47 rifles, 15 fabricated rifles, 11 dane guns, five fabricated revolver pistols, eight locally made pistols, three pump action guns and one magnum pump action.

“Others are: 1,807 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 314 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 146 rounds of 7.62mm PKM ammo, 77 rounds of 9mm ammo, 49 live cartridges, 25 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, 16 vehicles, 35 motorcycles, 27 mobile phones and the sum of N1,851,000.00 only amongst other items.

“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 13 crude oil cooking ovens, 20 dugout pits, 73 boats, 25 storage tanks and 59 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include 3 barges, 7 speedboats, 73 drums, one tricycle, 5 pumping machines, 3 mobile phones and 9 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 942,420 litres of stolen crude oil, 175,075 litres of illegally refined AGO and 4,980 litres of PMS.

“Overall, troop offensives have severely depleted ISWAP terrorist rank and file in the NE forcing a desperate recruitment drive. Similarly, terrorists in the NW are on a recruitment drive on social media for new recruits. Troops are aware of the situation and working with other security agencies and governments to thwart the plans.” General Buba said.

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NEMA receives 148 returnees from Niger Republic

The Lagos office of NEMA has received 148 returnees from Niger Republic

The Lagos Territorial Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday welcomed a new group of returnees repatriated from Niger Republic.

The returnees, a total of 148 individuals, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Cargo Terminal, at approximately 2:15 pm on Skymali flight ER-CTZ.

They were welcomed by NEMA alongside support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other stakeholders.

NEMA, in a statement on Thursday, said the returnees included 120 adult males, nine adult females, 10 male children, seven female children, and two infants.

The agency said there was a brief delay in moving the returnees from the aircraft due to a heavy rain when they arrived.

Officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service arrived when the weather cleared and the aircraft handlers provided buses to transport the returnees to the biometric registration center for documentation, the agency said.

News

Okpebholo Issues Directive to Freeze State-Owned Bank Accounts

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has directed the immediate suspension of all state-owned bank accounts.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor clarified that the accounts would stay frozen until further instructions are given.

The governor also urged commercial banks and leaders of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to implement the directive without hesitation.

The statement emphasized that Okpebholo warned that anyone, including MDAs leaders and government employees, who ignores the order would face stringent consequences.

“All state bank accounts with commercial banks have been frozen. Commercial banks must comply with this order and ensure that not a single naira is withdrawn from government coffers until further notice.

“Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies must ensure full compliance without delay.

“Following necessary investigations and reconciliations, the governor will take appropriate action and decide on the way forward. For now, this order remains in effect,” the statement read.

The governor also instructed the appropriate government bodies to restore the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to its former name, the Ministry of Works, a change that was made during the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Okpebholo mandated swift adherence, insisting that the updated name be formally adopted.

“It is odd to name a government institution the Ministry of Roads and Bridges, especially when not a single bridge was built by the previous administration — not even a pedestrian bridge.

“In the coming days, we will examine further actions taken by the previous administration and make decisions that serve the best interests of the state,” the statement concluded.

News

Ondo Election: 1,500 Personnel Deployed, Vehicular Movement Ban- FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) announced on Thursday that it would be sending 1,500 officers to oversee the smooth operation of the Ondo State governorship election, set for November 16, 2024.

This deployment, authorized by Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, is part of a wider strategy to collaborate with other security agencies and ensure compliance with vehicle movement restrictions during the election.

In a statement from Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the FRSC emphasized the critical need for maintaining order throughout the election process.

The personnel will be supported by 25 patrol vehicles, seven tow trucks, and six ambulances, all positioned to manage traffic, clear road blockages, and handle emergencies.

The Corps Marshal encouraged the officers assigned to demonstrate the utmost professionalism and honor the rights of every voter.

He cautioned against any behavior that could violate democratic rights, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a peaceful and well-organized election.

As election preparations progress, the FRSC has urged voters to adhere to the vehicle movement restrictions and work together with officials to ensure a smooth and impartial electoral process.

The statement read, “As part of efforts put in place to ensure smooth conduct of the forthcoming Ondo State Gubernatorial election scheduled by the electoral umpire to hold on 16 November 2024, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, has approved the deployment of 1,500 operatives, and ordered them to collaborate with other security agencies to enforce compliance on restrictions of vehicular movement.

“The directive issued by the Corps Marshal also mandated the Personnel to clear obstructions from the roads, carry out rescue operations in case of emergencies, and maintain orderliness in polling booths.

“In the same vein, adequate mobilisation has also been made for operational tools, including deployment of 25 patrol vehicles, seven tow trucks, as well as six ambulances to strengthen enforcement of restrictions during the entire process of the election.

“He warned the personnel deployed to play an active role in the democratic exercise. While emphasising the need to exhibit the highest sense of professionalism, the Corps Marshal also admonished them to avoid any act that could lead to abuse of the rights of electorates.”

News

Ondo Polls: No Vehicular Movement and VIP Escorts at Polling Units- IG

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has announced a prohibition on all forms of transportation, including vehicles on roads, waterways, and other modes, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the day of the Ondo State governorship election, which is set for Saturday, November 16th.

A statement released on Thursday by Force Spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi stated that essential services such as ambulances, media personnel, fire services, and accredited journalists would be exempt from this restriction.

Furthermore, the IG has banned security personnel and VIP escorts from accompanying their principals to polling stations and collation centres in an effort to maintain order and prevent disturbances.

Adejobi also revealed that vehicles without authorization would not be allowed to use sirens on the election day.

He said, “As part of the security framework, there will be a restriction of all vehicular movements on roads, waterways, and other means of transportation from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day, except for those on essential services, such as ambulances, media officials, fire services, and other accredited media.”

“Furthermore, security aides and escorts attached to VIPs are banned from accompanying VIPs to polling stations and collation centres to prevent disruptions. Unauthorised security personnel and quasi-security agencies will not be permitted to operate during the election, and a strict ban on the use of sirens by unauthorised vehicles will be enforced.”

He guaranteed that priority would be provided to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, among others, on election day.

Adejobi said, “Special consideration will also be extended to individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those with mobility challenges to ensure polling stations remain accessible.”

Adejobi also mentioned that DIG Sylvester Alabi would oversee the security plans for the election, with assistance from AIG Bennett Igweh and CP Tunji Disu.

He said, “In preparation for the elections, the IGP has deployed DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi as the coordinating DIG for the elections, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the police security strategies to maintain law and order throughout the electoral period, while AIG Bennett Igweh, mni, and CP Tunji Disu are deployed as AIG and CP Elections, respectively.”

Adejobi called on citizens to report any suspicious activities that could jeopardize the integrity of the electoral process and reiterated the police’s dedication to ensuring a secure and democratic atmosphere as the state prepares for the upcoming elections.Adejobi called on citizens to report any suspicious activities that could jeopardize the integrity of the electoral process and reiterated the police’s dedication to ensuring a secure and democratic atmosphere as the state prepares for the upcoming elections.

“The police will also work with the military and other federal security agencies, as collaborative efforts from all stakeholders are vital to ensuring that the elections are conducted fairly and peacefully,” he added.

Nigeria

Amotekun Uncovers 41-Year-Old Man’s Self-Kidnap Scheme in Ogun

The Ogun State Security Network, also known as the Amotekun Corps, has uncovered a self-kidnapping plot allegedly orchestrated by 41-year-old resident Enitan Awoyemi, who sought to escape a debt of approximately N1 million.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Brigadier General Alade Adedigba (retd.), the state’s Amotekun Commander, revealed that Awoyemi, from Irolu-Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area, allegedly staged his own abduction to avoid settling a significant gambling debt.

The scheme came to light when Awoyemi’s wife, Mrs. Tope Awoyemi, reported on November 10 that her husband had contacted her, claiming he was kidnapped the previous day by unidentified captors who were demanding a ransom of N5 million for his release.

“Upon receiving the report, the Amotekun Intelligence team launched an investigation into the alleged abduction. Findings revealed that Enitan Awoyemi had accrued significant debts from gambling in a lotto game, amounting to a staggering N1 million,” the statement read.

The statement further revealed that Awoyemi, known for his regular gambling habits, had once won N6 million, using a portion of the amount to buy a Toyota Corolla Sport and a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle for business use.
However, when unable to settle his debts, he reportedly staged his own kidnapping.

Amotekun personnel, in collaboration with the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and other local partners, traced the suspect first to Ijagba town and then to Ota in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

Officers detected a strong odour of insecticide on Awoyemi, indicating a potential suicide attempt. He was promptly taken to Rufina Private Hospital in Iperu for treatment.

Brigadier General Adedigba reassured the public that Awoyemi would undergo the appropriate legal procedures.

“Once he is discharged from the hospital, he will be handed over to the police for further proceedings,” he stated.

The Amotekun Commander commended the teamwork that resulted in the arrest of the suspect and encouraged the public to stay alert and report any suspicious behaviour.

“This incident underscores the importance of community cooperation in ensuring safety and security,” Adedigba said.