*At Int’l Day, Enugu Reaffirms Zero Tolerance For Female Genital Mutilation
By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Operatives of Enugu State Police Command attached to Awgu Division, in the early hours of 31 January 2026, recovered a Sinotruk truck along Ndeagbor Road, Awgu community, in Awgu Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Enugu State Command, Daniel Ndukwe, the Command said that the recovery followed the operatives’ swift response to an intelligence report that the truck had been snatched at gunpoint from its driver at Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, on 29 January 2026 -two days earlier.
On sighting the operatives, the statement added, “the criminal elements abandoned the truck and fled into a nearby forest.”
According to the police, a manhunt for the suspects is ongoing while the owner of the vehicle has been identified and investigations are on.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mamman Bitrus Giwa, the PPRO stated, has encouraged members of the public, especially vehicle owners, to promptly report incidents of crime against property to the Police.
He reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to the continued protection of lives and property across the State.
Enugu Reaffirms Zero Tolerance For Female Genital Mutilation
Also, Enugu State Government has reaffirmed its zero tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM), describing the practice as barbaric, harmful, and a gross violation of the rights of girls and women.
Speaking to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Valentina Enih, stated that FGM has no cultural, medical, or moral justification even as it causes lifelong physical, emotional, and psychological harm.
The Commissioner emphasized that FGM is a criminal offence under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, and warned that anyone who performs, aids, abets, or permits the practice will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
She called on parents, caregivers, traditional rulers, health workers, faith-based organizations, and community leaders to collaborate with government’s efforts to eliminate the practice and protect the girl-child.
“Culture must never be used as a shield for violence. In Enugu State, every girl has the right to grow up safe, whole, and dignified,” she noted.
The Commissioner reiterated government’s commitment to sustained advocacy, community engagement, and enforcement of existing laws to ensure the total eradication of FGM across the state.
*PHOTO CAPTION: The stolen truck.
