I was nothing but a young girl when my sexuality got damaged. Yes, I mean damaged by ignorant people. Not by rape, penetration, or loss of my virginity. It was through a heinous act called Mutilation. My story is a call to action and advocacy for my community leaders in Ariyo to abandon this inhumane and barbaric practice.

Of course, they didn’t expect a seven-year-old girl to know much about life but I still knew a little from what I saw. The “Flashback” of this unmemorable experience coupled with my present knowledge of science& anatomy has given me a clearer picture of what the act really was. It has now caused me more emotional and psychological pains.

The community leaders have been hell-bent over the years and refused to stop this heinous practice against the human race.

I remember the old-looking woman; obviously not a health professional holding a sharp object as I was laid on the ground for circumcision. I watched her use the unsterilized blade to cut off my clitoris. It was mutilated badly and carelessly and it later caused a great health hazard to me. That mutilation made me contract an infection known as Vesico Vagina Fistula(VVF). I still suffer from bladder malfunctioning and fertility problems.

Reminiscences of the pains I felt as a young girl when some ignorant people insisted on circumcision of my genitals have caused more excruciating pains, anguish & agony in me as a woman. I am a victim of a society that values superstitious beliefs & traditions over realistic lessons and innovations. They say things like “It is our culture, you must also follow it” thus wallowing in ignorance.

I appeal to the community leaders to use this story as a source of enlightenment and to know that if they fail to abandon Female Genital Mutilation, many females would likely abandon the community in the future. The community must be known for its great practices, not Mutilation.

They claimed to do a “Circumcision” when it was actually a “Mutilation”. I was left to live with an “Infection” that has given me “Depression”. But as long as I live, I will seek a “Solution” and I hope my “Narration” would be a great source of “Inspiration” to other victims from Ariyo community and Africa at large. God bless Ariyo Community.