Mrs Otti made the call on Friday in a statement to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, held in Umuahia, the state capital. According to her, female genital mutilation has no medical benefit and exposes victims to severe pain, trauma, infections, complications during childbirth, and lifelong psychological damage. “Female genital mutilation does not make childbirth safer, nor is it prescribed by any religion. “The law is clear in Abia State. I wish to state unequivocally that Female Genital Mutilation is a criminal offence under our state law,” she said.

Source: Punch February 07, 2026 14:34 UTC