Female circumcision punishable with 4 years imprisonment – NAPTIP

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has said that female circumcision is a crime that attracts a four-year jail term.

The agency made this disclosure in a post it shared on its official X handle, @naptipnigeria, on Sunday.

A member of the public on his X handle, @realmuhammadd, asked if it was a must for a newly born baby girl to be circumcised.

Another X user with the handle @AAAlhlaji21 responded, saying it is important to perform circumcision on baby girls to prevent them from being promiscuous when they grow up.

The agency, however, debunked the myth of circumcising a baby girl to prevent them from being promiscuous when they grow up, warning against the practice.

“Dear Muhammad- Just so you know, female circumcision is a crime under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015 and under various states’ VAPP laws.

“Anyone who performs female circumcision is liable to up to four years imprisonment; an attempt attracts two years imprisonment,” NAPTIP stated.

According to the agency, anyone who incites, aids, or counsels another person to commit the offence of female circumcision is liable to up to two years imprisonment.

“We urge you to use this as a teaching moment to also educate others. Remember, “female circumcision, genital mutilation” is a crime, ” it stated.