By Margaret John
Mr. Richard Akonam, a Cross River based Missionary and rights advocate has disclosed that several victims have been rescued but no perpetrator has been arrested or prosecuted over the money woman tradition in Becheve Community, Obanlikwu LGA.
He made the disclosure Sunday, while speaking on “The Dialogue With Agba Jalingo” on Hit 95.9 FM in Calabar.
He also condemned the practice and enjoined all and sundry to join the campaign and end the scourge.
The money woman tradition is an age old practice in Becheve community of Obanliku local government area of northern Cross River State.
The practice affects the female gender and sees the female tagged a ‘Money Woman’ sold to an elderly man for reasons ranging from debts, to pledges poverty among others.
The practice sees the senior males in the family sell out, or give out a daughter or sister to any man from that community for cash or items such as pigs, goats, poultry birds and several others.
The money woman becomes the property of the owner and is engaged in a money marriage with the owner who can treat her in whatever manner he pleases; a scenario which some have argued is akin to modern day slavery.
The practice affects not only little girls, as sometimes, daughters are even pledged before they are conceived and the debt can stand for generations while the money woman already given out can be passed from one generation to another as a property.
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