IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author): “A cult/religion known as "Ozalla Udumugbe Society" including the nature of the beliefs, location, size of membership and whether, or not, female genital mutilation (FGM) is ritually performed on women who are members at age 30 [NGA36489.E]”, Document #1153419

A cult/religion known as "Ozalla Udumugbe Society" including the nature of the beliefs, location, size of membership and whether, or not, female genital mutilation (FGM) is ritually performed on women who are members at age 30 [NGA36489.E]

No mention of a cult/religion known as "Ozalla Udumugbe Society" could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, one report mentions a community by the name of Ituku/Ozalla in Enugu state (Post Express 26 May 1999) and the Worldwide Organization for Women mentions Ozalla in Enugu State in a listing of their educational programs (n.d.). It states, "Ozalla has a population of about 20,000 people with about 10 villages" (ibid.). In other information, the African Studies section of the University of Illinois Library has a 1990 publication by Ikpekhia V.E.A. entitled "The Historical Background and Cultural Heritage of Ozalla," published by Omaivi Enterprises Limited in Igarra Bendel State, Nigeria (n.d.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Post Express [Lagos]. 26 May 1999. "Minister Commends Community." www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 27 Mar. 2001]

University of Illinois Library, African Studies. July - August 2000. "Acquisitions List." http://www.afrst.uiuc.edu/Library/acqjulaug2000.html [Accessed 27 Mar. 2001]

The Worldwide Organization for Women (WOW). n.d. "Family Works Program." http://www.wowinfo.org/wowafrica/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2001]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

LEXIS-NEXIS

REFWORLD

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites including:

Adherents.com

Anthropology Explorer

Ethnologue: Languages of the World

The Guardian [Lagos].

Joshua Project 2000

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge].

Mail and Guardian [Johannesburg].

MotherlandNigeria

Nigeria Media Monitor

Nigeria News Network

Oneworld.net

Post Express [Lagos].

United Nations, Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN).

Vanguard [Apapa].

Search engines including:

Dogpile

Google

Highway 61

HotBot

ecoi.net description:: A cult/religion known as "Ozalla Udumugbe Society" including the nature of the beliefs, location, size of membership and whether, or not, female genital mutilation (FGM) is ritually performed on women who are members at age 30 [NGA36489.E]

Country:: Nigeria
Source:: IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Published:: 27 March 2001
Document type:: Response
Language:: English
Document ID:: 1153419 (former ID 188321)