Lucky Enomwen Odeh, Family Flee After Refusing Female Circumcision, Brother Killed

The family of Lucky Enomwen Odeh is living in fear after facing violent attacks and death threats from extended family members and villagers for refusing to circumcise their two daughters, a practice deeply rooted in Benin Kingdom traditions.

Trouble started over three years ago when Lucky and his wife, Oduwa Loveth Odeh, declined to follow the age-old tradition of female genital mutilation (FGM), despite repeated warnings from their kinsmen and community elders. The extended family, led by the traditional head and chief priest, insisted that the couple must subject their daughters to the ritual or face dire spiritual and physical consequences.

When their first daughter, Flourish Enomwengho Odeh, was born, family members attempted to forcibly circumcise her. Sensing danger, Lucky swiftly sent his wife and child into hiding. However, he was attacked in his home, suffering a broken nose after resisting the enraged villagers. This defiance only escalated tensions, leading to ongoing threats against the family.

Matters worsened when their second daughter was born in April 2022. Upon hearing the news, the extended family and villagers renewed their threats, vowing to either forcefully circumcise the children or eliminate the family for defying tradition. The threats, which included spiritual attacks and physical harassment, became so intense that the family had to flee their home in the dead of night.

A relative, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that the village elders declared war on Lucky’s family, claiming that tradition must be upheld regardless of government opposition to the practice. “They said not even the police can stop them because this is a traditional matter,” the source revealed, adding that the family’s photos were circulated to ensure they would be found and punished.

The conflict took a tragic turn when Lucky’s senior brother, who had also defied the practice, was beaten to death after confronting the same extended family members. His wife and his daughter managed to escape to an unknown location, fearing for her safety. Their mother, overwhelmed by grief, reportedly developed high blood pressure following her son’s murder.

Fearing for his mother’s health and unwilling to risk his own life, Lucky and his family disappeared without a trace, leaving behind everything they owned. Meanwhile, the family elders and villagers have vowed to continue the hunt, stating that no law or government intervention can erase a tradition they claim is inherent to the Benin Kingdom.