The decision by the elders of Umuonuigwe community in Etche LGA of Rivers State to perform traditional cleansing for the youths (six young men) who had sexual intercourse with one of their sisters has continued to generate reactions.
Recalled that TPCN reported in May that six male indigenes of the community were discovered to have had sexual intercourse with a young female indigene of the same community.
Traditionally, indigenes of the community consider themselves as blood relations and do not inter-marry or engage in any sexual activities with each other.
However, the six males, in May, broke the age-long tradition when they sacrilegiously had sexual intercourse with another female indigene of the community which resulted in pregnancy.
It was gathered that elders of the community had refused the culprits from practicing the age-long custom where those involved in sexual activities in the community would be forced to re-enact the sexual intercourse openly at the village square before cleansing is effected. It is known as ‘ikwa ala’
TPCN gathered that youths of the community frowned at the decision of the elders to cleanse the culprits involved in the sacrilege without performing the usual tradition of open sexual intercourse.
They maintained that by the decision of the elders to cleanse the culprits without the open sexual intercourse, the possibility of the act increasing is high.
A prominent youth in the community who pleaded anonymity informed TPCN that they would organize a protest against the decision of the elders until the tradition is carried out fully.
