Editorial
Stop Female Genital Mutilation Now
Despite international efforts since the 1970s to dissuade practitioners of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to abandon the practice, cases of the primitive practice are still prevalent in our society.
FGM, according to World Health Organisation and UNICEF, is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Typically carried out by a traditional circumciser using a blade, FGM is conducted from days after birth to puberty and beyond. It involves removal of the clitoral hood and glans removal of the inner and outer labia and closure of the vulva.
Ostensibly, this practice is rooted in gender inequality, attempts to control women’s sexuality, and wrong notions about purity, modesty and beauty. However, this exposes the girl child to health hazards ranging from severe bleeding, low sexual urge, recurrent infections, difficulty in urinating and passing menstrual flow, chronic pain, development of cysts and to an extent, inability to get pregnant and complications during childbirth.
Regrettably, there are no known health or medical benefits of the practice. That is why The Tide is alarmed and worried about last week’s alert by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) that the primitive practice was still on the increase in parts of Rivers State.
According to the FIDA Chairman in the State, Tonia Osademe, the practice is still prevalent in Abua/Odual Local Government Area, while other stakeholders said Ahoada West and Oyigbo Local Government Areas, among others, also witness unreported cases of FGM.
The Tide is concerned that despite rigorous advocacy and campaigns against the FGM, some people are still bent on engaging in the outlawed and primitive practice. More worrisome were reports that in cases where such practices were reported to law enforcement agencies, little or no actions were taken to bring perpetrators to book.
Since 2010, the United Nations has called upon healthcare providers to stop performing all forms of FGM procedure, including reinfibulation after childbirth and symbolic nicking of the clitoral hood. In fact, in December 2012, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution (Res L21 revision 1) calling on states to implement laws eliminating FGM, among several other recommendations.
It is sad to note, however, that despite the passage of the Child Rights Law and its domestication in the state, the law and resolutions against FGM appear to have been observed in the breach, while the repugnable practice still persists in our society, even Rivers State.
We, therefore, call for immediate end to this barbaric practice in our society due to the health and psychological implications on the female child. The practice is not only primitive and unsafe, but also inhuman. It is alien to the medical world and out of sync with the modern age. Nigeria, particularly, Rivers State, must not be seen to be living in Stone Age era.
It is, indeed, sad and condemnable that this practice is being encouraged by the women folk. A situation where parents, particularly mothers, force their female children to undergo FGM despite their opposition and resistance is repugnant and must be condemned by all and sundry.
We, therefore, urge the society to take up the gauntlet, fight the despicable practice and protect the female child from this inhuman treatment. The Child Rights Law and resolutions against FGM must be given the teeth to bite offenders.
While we expect the law enforcement agents to always follow up reported cases and bring to book individuals found culpable, in order to serve as deterrent to others, we also call on community leaders, traditional and religious institutions and government agencies to take positions against FGM and act decisively to stop the obnoxious practice.
It is also pertinent for the media and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), to get involved through sustained campaigns and sensitizations in order to expose the risks and dangers of FGM to the people.
We believe that FGM, even if fashionable in the society in years of yore, belongs to the past and the time to eliminate all vestiges of the primitive practice is now.
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Editorial
Addressing Unruly Behaviours At The Airports

It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.
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