On Thursday, 17 September, visitors arrived at Government Comprehensive High School, Taabaa, in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State. They came offering scholarships and exercise books. According to the state’s Ministry of Education, they left having selected 16 female students for virginity testing.
The people said to be behind it claimed to represent a traditional institution in the community. Neither the institution nor any individual has been named publicly. The students reportedly objected, and staged a peaceful protest.
What the state has said
It took more than a month for the state to speak. On 22 October, a statement signed by Permanent Secretary Dr Mina Tele Ikurue on behalf of the Commissioner for Education called the allegation “extremely serious and disturbing.” The ministry said it would establish what happened, identify those involved and determine whether any student was actually examined. It also warned that anyone found to have taken part could be referred to the appropriate authorities.
The statement went further than the case. It directed schools across Rivers to keep up child-protection standards and told traditional institutions and community bodies not to select or test female students for virginity, directly or indirectly. It said educational aid must be provided transparently.
That last line matters, because the allegation sets scholarship and examination side by side, as if one were the price of the other.
Say NO to virginity testing! 🚫 “Virginity testing” aka “two-finger testing” has no scientific or clinical basis. It is an inspection of female genitalia designed to determine whether a 👩 or 👧 has had vaginal intercourse. Virginity testing MUST END 👉 https://t.co/MqNtKnGw59 https://t.co/APUEeKlBq1
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 17, 2018
What is still unknown
The law is not unclear. Section 11 of the Child Rights Act 2003 protects a child’s dignity. The World Health Organization, UN Human Rights and UN Women said in a 2018 joint statement that virginity testing has no scientific or clinical basis, and called for it to end.
What the reports do not say is just as telling. No police involvement has been reported, and no names. It is not yet known whether any of the 16 girls was examined. For now, the ministry’s investigation is the only one.
Sixteen girls were allegedly lined up at a school gate because someone had something to give. Whatever the inquiry finds, the offer itself should never have been made on those terms.
Sources: Tribune Online, The Nigeria Lawyer, The Eagle Online, Leadership.
