…Villagers: It’s age long tradition/culture
Scores of angry villagers made up of mainly youths of Amagu, Obeagu Community in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State have allegedly set ablaze ,rasing down the house of one of their kinsmen, Mr Egbo Frank, as a result of his wife’s blunt refusal to allow the traditional circumcision of their little daughter in line with their age long custom.
According to reports, the tragic incident took place in the early hours of Saturday, April 5,2025 in Amagu, Obeagu community .
It was also gathered that Mrs Judith Frank and her five months-old daughter would have also been burnt inside their country home except for their quick escape from the house .
The attack on the Frank family was said to have been rumoured every where in the village as the wife was fingered as one of those opposed to the old custom of the land.
It was said that there was fear that the villagers may forcefully storm their home, and take away their little daughter,as is usually done, thereby forcing them to comply with the circumcision ritual,but nobody could say for sure whether the rumour would become reality, including the Frank family until that fateful Saturday,April 5,2025.
A source told Nigeria Newspoint that the irate villagers claimed to have set ablaze Mr.Egbo Frank’s home, because of his wife, Judith’s refusal to comply with the said directive by the Amagu, Obeagu village head regarding the circumcision rituals.
The source also informed that Mrs Frank’s refusal was seen as ridiculing their cherished age long tradition and custom.
It was further gathered that Mrs Frank fled their community to avoid being compelled to obey the cultural norm.
That escape was what was said to have aggravated the villagers’ grouse, culminating to the arson and alleged attempt on the live of the Franks .
Nigeria Newspoint investigation showed that events surrounding the mob attack began when village head through his messengers informed all families whose female daughters were due for circumcision,to bring them to the circumcision ground on the market day for the exercise,as stipulated by their tradition.
Our reporter learnt that when the message got to Mr Egbo Frank’s house,his wife ,Judith allegedly bluntly told them that her little daughter will not take part in such a dangerous ritual.
Mrs Frank, a villager informed had always kicked against the village custom , saying, Female Genitals Mutilation, FGM, is outdated, a violation of the rights of the girl child, and a potential health risk.
The source revealed that Mrs Frank’s response made the village head angry, and they openly threatened to use their power to subdue her and make her comply with the village cultural norm.
“The Saturday early morning attack on them, therefore, was said to be the result of the said disobedience to the order of the village head.
According to some villagers , since that unfortunate incident, Mr Egbo Frank’s wife and daughter’s whereabouts remain unknown .
“They have since ran away to unknown place, owing to credible fear they could be harmed if seen within the community”
Investigation further revealed that nobody in the village has seen or heard from the embattled family in the aftermath of the incident.
Efforts to reach the Amagu village leaders before press time was not fruitful as none responded to calls and texts sent to them.
