IG, Fayemi’s wife, others move to free 57 women from debt bondage
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- A collaborative effort involving the Nigeria Police, women's rights advocates, and traditional leaders aims to free 57 women from debt bondage in Cross River State.
- The women were trapped in the 'money woman' practice, where they were used as collateral to settle family debts.
- N6.2 million has been raised to secure the release of the first batch of women, with plans to replicate the model in other communities.
A significant stride has been made in Cross River State towards eradicating the deeply entrenched 'money woman' practice, a harmful tradition where women and girls are used as collateral to settle family debts. In a coordinated intervention, the Nigeria Police, alongside prominent women's rights advocates and traditional authorities, are working to secure the freedom of 57 women ensnared by this age-old custom.
What we have done today is to effectively release 57 women from this practice. We will also document this model and explore opportunities for replication in other communities.
The formal abolition of this practice in the Becheve communities of Obanliku Local Government Area marks a turning point. Spearheading the financial aspect of this liberation, the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, led by Dr. Otive Igbuzor, has successfully raised N6.2 million to facilitate the release of the initial group of affected women. This collective action demonstrates a powerful synergy between civil society, law enforcement, and community leadership.
We call on the media to amplify these stories responsibly, on policymakers to strengthen protection for women’s rights, and on partners to support the next phase of this work.
Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, emphasized that such harmful traditional practices are pervasive across Nigeria and necessitate a united front for their eradication. She highlighted the need to uphold practices and values that promote human dignity and protect individuals from physical, emotional, and psychological harm. The initiative not only aims to free these 57 women but also to document and replicate this successful model in other communities grappling with similar issues, striving for a Nigeria where freedom and justice are realities for all women.
In every part of Nigeria, there are practices that discriminate against women and girls. And in every community, we have what we call harmful traditional practices.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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