One could almost feel the intensity of her emotions as Osarieme Oziegbe, 28, told the story of her birth and recalled the ugly consequences of the removal of her clitoris (genitalia) by a nurse in Benin City, Nigeria, as narrated to her by her mother.
The nurse had convinced Ms Oziegbe’s mother to circumcise the new baby as part of the cultural rites of the Binis. She told her that it validates the birth of a girl child.
Ms Oziegbe said: “I learnt that after my delivery, and the counselling by the nurse, my mom agreed to cut my clitoris but that she almost lost me because I bled uncontrollably. Thank God, I survived it.’’
