The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has identified harmful traditional practices as the commonest of the violence against women and girls in Abia.
The State Coordinator, NHRC, Mrs Uche Nwokocha, made this known to newsmen on Tuesday in Umuahia during a rally to kick-off 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Nwokocha described harmful traditional practices as customs, behaviours, or rituals that are deeply ingrained in certain cultures or societies but have detrimental effects on individuals, communities, or specific groups.
She said that the practices ranked most among the over 600 complaints received so far by the Commission in 2025.
According to her, these complaints are coming up because people are becoming aware and they now know what to do.
Nwokocha, a legal practitioner, raised the alarm against disinheritance of girls and widows, saying that people scrambled for late husbands’ and fathers’ property, “trying to disinherit their children.”
She also described fidelity oath and infidelity rituals as other harmful practices which women were now coming out to complain about.
Nwokocha said: “Men force their wives to take oath and the community will support them because the husband said that she has cheated.
“The woman will be forced to go and take oath to show that she has not cheated.
“For that of infidelity rituals, the woman has not cheated, but the man wants her to swear that she will never cheat on him.
“He will go and place some kind of ritual on her and her family so that if she cheats on him, she, her brothers and sisters will die.
“They say that it has been going on, but women have not been complaining about it.
“Now we are receiving complaints about this and some people even try to tell me that it is their cultural practice.”
Nwokocha, who outlined other activities for the campaign, urged all to join hands in curbing GBV in the society.
Also, Mr Victor Orji, the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Abia, called for a concerted effort to fight GBV.
“It’s not just about women
or men, it’s about everybody.
“So, that’s why we are supporting this campaign, to make sure that people behave responsibly,” Orji said.
Meanwhile, the Commission and its many partners marched around the streets of Umuahia, sensitising the residents to GBV.
The theme for this year is: “Unite to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.”
