Royal Rituals and Fetish Circumcision in Nigeria

Certain traditions and cultures in Africa have been in existence from time immemorial but when they become detrimental to human existence, its essence is no longer desired in the modern age of individual freedom and technological development.

In this interview with PATRICK USIFO, the mother of one of the victims, Mrs Ogundare Bintu Amodu narrates a tale that is heartbreaking and nauseating.

Tell us about your daughter Teniola, who is the victim in this narrative?

Adeleye Teniola Idowu, 36 years old was born and brought up in Lagos, Nigeria and got married to Adeleye Rasheed Abayomi, a Prince and first son of the Alake of Egba land in Abeokuta on May 1, 2010.

The marriage was blessed with three children – two boys and one girl. Prior to the marriage, Adeleye Rasheed had told his spouse, Teniola, a lot of palace secrets that he would not want to participate nor let his children experience.

Due to the hectic regime demanded of Yoruba royal families, the Prince and Teniola married without consent of the royal family.

Did the royal family accept this development? No A prince getting married without approval?

At first, there were no issues as the Prince assured my daughter that there won’t be any problem with his decision not to inform the royal family of his wedding.

But as soon as the royal couple had their first child, they were mandated to reconcile with the royal household including the kingdom’s tradition.

The birth of the second child, a girl added more fodder to an already volatile situation. At that moment the head of the royal family informed the couple of a traditional ceremony that usually takes place every five years which includes the circumcision of every teenage girl in the royal household.

Teniola’s mother consulted some royal elders where she detailed the hazards and health implications consequent on this exercise. Furthermore, she told them of a little girl in her community who died from complications arising from female genital circumcision.

I understand that the royals are educated and why still maintain this archaic tradition?

The royals are well educated. The reason behind holding tight to this, I can’t say. Despite the advocacy and negative health implications, the royal courtiers remained undeterred.

Following this, Teniola’s mother reported the matter to the police. Given that the police refused to intervene in the matter, it became obvious that Teniola’s mother was left with only the legal option of which she had little or no resources to pursue.

Teniola travelled to Ghana when another festival was coming. On her return,the royal family threatened to punish her for being absent from the ceremony.

And due to this, members of the royal family took to hounding Prince Adeleye,Teniola’s spouse. Following the accompanying stress, one of Teniola’s daughters fell sick even as cause of illness was left undiagnosed for one year.

She had asked her husband why he suddenly changed his mind of becoming the heir apparent, a position he earlier rejected, the Prince averred that the oracle chose him.

You mean circumcision is still ongoing in spite of the government’s efforts to stop it?

Yes, it’s still ongoing even as we speak. All efforts to convince the Prince that genital circumcision was no longer fashionable in civilized societies were rebuffed. As the couple welcomed another baby, the issue of circumcision again took the centre stage.

The Prince had told the wife they had no option than to obey tradition of the kingdom as any recalcitrance is liable of denying him the kingship.

Following the development, he relegated such family responsibilities as feeding allowance and school fees to the background. Subsequently, Teniola relocated to America and bore a son.

With the birth of his son, the Prince had a change of heart while further severing ties with the royal family in order to live a hassle-free life with his wife and children.

This development influenced the return of Teniola to Nigeria in 2016. But to her surprise she discovered that little or nothing had changed.

Teniola reported the case to the police in Ajuwon town,Ogun State.

Just like Lagos, the Ogun State police told her that the issues concerning the royal family was strictly an internal affair. O risa (god) for transgressions of their apparent”s wife

Are you serious?

Yes, I am still in shock and sobbing, and when they get back home early in the morning and the prince went to work then she called me .

You did not seek legal address?

We could not do anything as we were all scared. I took her to hospital for treatment from injuries she sustained during the rituals.  As a result of  the  incident, Prince Adeleye became alienated from his nuclear family who kept him at arm’s length.

To their surprise, he banned his wife and children from attending church services while burning Bibles and other Christian related books in the house. He then replaced all Christian memorabilia in the house with statues of local gods which he ordered them to worship.

One day, Teniola came home from work and found the house full of the King’s herbalists and some palace courtiers. Aside from the dining table, she saw the Prince administering some concoctions on her children.

She left her matrimonial home and came to stay with me, a few days after, FSARS came to my house they searched and ransacked all rooms while dragging Teniola and the children into their vehicle and driving them away.

I later heard her husband had forced her to remain at home, she was only allowed to take the kids to school and occasionally pick them up. One of the most terrible events was when she received a call from school that Ademide had non stop cough and struggled with breathing. On arrival at the school, my grand-son was rushed to hospital and he was diagnosed with stress related diseases.

How did she escape?

A family friend, Mr. Sulaimon Moshood, agreed to accommodate her and the children in his residence in Ilorin, Kwara State. While staying in Ilorin, Teniola’s daughter had severe chest pain and faint breathing but overlooked that it was a symptom of minor irritation. Then she was diagnosed with asthma after visiting a nearby local health center.

Was there any punitive measure for her escape with the children?

In September, his brother called and told her that FSARS were looking for her. I am not certain who informed her that we were arrested and FSARS asked of her for her return before they can release us.

For two weeks of the detention of my sons and I, I was detained in horrible condition, where I slept on the hard concrete floor and my sons were locked with armed robbers in the cell.

Then my health began to deteriorate, no one attended to me, I was allowed to leave behind

the counter when I had to use the toilet. Teniola’s brothers had no choice but to disclose her whereabouts in exchange for my release from police custody.

Next day, one of her brothers was released with me while my other son remained detained and they threatened to charge him with trumped up charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.

Eventually he would be substituted with one of those scheduled to be executed , if any information given was wrong.

I was rushed to a hospital for treatment, while on our way to the hospital, her aunt bukky called Ilorin to notify Teniola that FSARS would be at their place. That they should leave and ask of Mr. Sulaimon Moshood’s assistant to get them to a safer place.

Few days in the hospital, I was informed they are in Abuja but I did not know their exact location. Then I heard Mr. Sulaimon Moshood was picked up at his residence and they brought him to Lagos to detain him where he was tortured.

In the process, I heard his wife was hospitalized after her husband was arrested and tortured and later lost her pregnancy. Also, Mr. Sulaimon Moshood was tortured when he refused to disclose Teniola and her children’s location

This is really sad. Where is Teniola now?

For their safety and well being Teniola and the children were relocated overseas where they vowed never to come back to Nigeria.