By Solomon T. Gaye
/NIMBA
The practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has reportedly resurfaced in the town of Gblor Dialah in lower Nimba county.
Speaking to the Inquirer Newspaper in Fehnlay, Town Chief Mark Whapoe , disclosed that 12 girls or women were admitted into the Sande traditional bush school in Gblor Dialah Town at the beginning of January 2025.
According to Chief Whapoe , the women were taken into the Sande traditional bush school by the order of some traditional women under the watchful eyes of Clan Chief Matthew Vlenn and Paramount Chief Troh .
“The opening of the Sande traditional bush school was tied to bringing back home the remains of a Zoe woman who died in America,” Chief Whapoe revealed .
“We all know that government has placed a stop order on the practices of Sande bush school and under the watchful eyes of Clan Chief Matthew Vlenn of Gblor Dialah and Paramount Chief Troh , who are all residents of the town, allowed these women to forcefully take these school girls or women into the bush ,” public school Teacher Paul K. Leabah pointed out.
During a normal routine visit in Gblor Dialah recently, it was observed by this reporter that a group of women were seen dressed in traditional attires while dancing their way into the cultural environment of the traditional Sande bush school .
Since the reopening of the traditional Sande bush school in Gblor Dialah Town, local authorities have remained tight-lipped on the issue and threatened that any resident found guilty of releasing the information will bear the full weight of what they referred to as “the tradition law.”
When contacted, the clan chief Matthew Vlenn in Gblor Dialah confirmed that those girls have been put out after they spent the required time for graduation .
“The women were put out this gone Saturday April 6, 2025 and everyone of them has gone home and rejoined their families,” some women said .
When this reporter contacted Doe Administrative District Commissioner, Madam Chris Joe, via mobile phone, she confirmed the operation of the traditional Sande bush school in Gblor Dialah Town. She however clarified that she refused to attend the graduation festival when she was contacted.
Meanwhile, it can be recalled that in its Vol.34, N0.54 edition of Thursday, April 3, 2025, the Inquirer carried as its back page lead “Internal Affairs Places Year-long Suspension on Bush Schools”. Quoting Internal Affairs Minister Francis Nyumalin, the decision was triggered by what he called ‘several reports of wrongful traditional practices in the Poro and Sande traditional schools.’ The minister however clarified that the suspension which is expected to remain in force from April 30, 2025 up to January 2026 is intended to work out the wrongs surrounding the country’s culture and traditions.
It now remains unclear, if the deans ( operators) of the traditional sande bush school have breached any ‘customary law’ or any mandate ahead of the coming into force of the April 30 2025 commencement date set forth by the Ministry of Internal affairs for the suspension on bush schools.
FGM Practice Resurfaces In Nimba?
