News
‘Breast ironing harming girls, won’t stop attraction to men’
The physicians said the harmful practice, mostly rooted in the north, exposes the girls to infection, breast tissue damage, poor milk production after childbirth apart from leaving them traumatised.
According to the African Health Organisation, breast ironing is a process whereby young girls’ breasts are ironed, massaged and pounded down through the use of hard or heated objects in order for the breasts to disappear or delay the development of the breasts entirely.
The AHO said this cultural practice, which is predominant in the areas where child marriage is prevalent, affects 3.8 million women across Africa, noting that the practice is one of the five under-reported crimes relating to gender-based violence.
The practice can include the use of a variety of objects, such as heated grinding stones, cast-iron pans, ladles, hammers, wooden pestles or spatulas, spoons, brooms, or electric irons.
Experts say the callous practice is to stop or delay the breasts from growing or developing or make them flatter with the aim of making the girls unattractive to men.
They noted that breast ironing, like female genital mutilation, was a harmful cultural practice carried out on young girls between the ages nine and 15, which leaves them with complication of breastfeeding in adulthood.
Recall that the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, recently issued a stern warning that the Federal Government would stamp out the harmful practice during her advocacy visit to Garki Chiefdom, Abuja Municipal Council.
Kennedy-Ohanenye, who also warned that the perpetrators would be severely punished , expressed worry over such practice in Kpaduma and Pygba communities in Abuja, insisting that the practice is harmful to women’s health.
Speaking Healthwise in different interviews, the medical experts said the practice was totally acceptable, citing the short-term and long term health risks.
They noted that breast ironing was a harmful cultural practice and abuse which could lead to breast cancer, urging health workers working with children and young people to watch out for girls who may be at risk.
A Consultant Radiation Oncologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Ara, Dr Adedayo Joseph, said, “Though there have not been medical studies on the effects of breast ironing, the practice can cause breast cancer, cysts, depression and perhaps interfere with breastfeeding in later life.
“There are currently 10 cases of diagnosed breast cancer reported from women who were identified as victims of breast ironing. In addition to this, breast ironing puts the girl child at risk of abscesses, infections and permanent tissue damage, resulting in breast pimples, imbalance in breast size, and milk infection.”
“Other possible side effects include malformed breasts. The practice ranges in its severity, from using heated leaves to press and massage the breasts, to using a grinding stone to crush the budding gland. The health consequences vary from benign to acute.
“Also, there might be a delay of breast milk development after giving birth, endangering the life of newborns. Many women also suffer mental trauma after undergoing breast ironing. They see it as a punishment and often internalise blame.”
Corroborating her views, a Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, Dr Babatunde Rosiji said that the practice thrives in the less informed environment where people do not have access to right information.
He said, “This practice is born out of the decision to suppress the breasts to protect the girls from rape and other sexual abuses without knowing that the practice is more harmful itself. You can imagine using a wooden pestle or heated iron sheet to massage the young girls’ breasts and pound it down. In some cases, you see pus in the young girls’ breasts as a result of the practice.”
Speaking on its consequences, he said, “Due to the instruments being used in the process combined with insufficient aftercare, young girls are exposed to significant health risks. This violates the young girl’s physical integrity. It exposes them to abscesses, infection, dissymmetry of the breasts, and tissue damage.
“This does not only damage a child’s physical integrity, but it also affects their social and psychological well-being. Over 50 per cent of this action is carried out on the children by their mothers and sometimes, without the knowledge of their fathers.
“Yes, some people hypothesise that it could cause breast cancers, but it is yet to be proven by studies. However, it does great damage to a girl child. They find it difficult to lactate or breastfeed their babies after childbirth. It affects glandular tissue, the part of the breasts that makes milk.”
On the solution, he added, “We need a legal framework to fight this just like the genital mutilation in the country. We also need the education of these young girls because the practice thrives in ignorance.
“Normally, a girl beginning to grow breasts all of sudden would wonder what is happening to her chest. She would run to her mother and you can imagine what the mother will tell her if such a mother is bent on doing this. But when such a child is taught about her body parts and development, she would know it’s a process of development and can’t be deceived.”
Clinical Oncologist and Chief Clinical Coordinator of NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre, Dr Habeebu Muhammad, however, said though there are other harmful impacts of this practice, no studies have documented it as one of the causes of cancers.
A recent study by Mela Fotabong et al, on the “Prevalence, Awareness and Adverse Outcomes of Breast Ironing among Cameroonian Women in Buea Health District” revealed that victims of breast ironing experienced adverse breast outcomes.
The researchers advocated health education and the introduction of legislation against breast ironing to eliminate the harmful traditional practice.
They recommended further research to understand the drivers of breast ironing in other regions where it is practised.
The outbreak is said to have spread across several ISWAP enclaves, exposing worsening sanitary conditions and the dwindling availability of medical care within the insurgents’ camps.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a post on X, citing intelligence sources familiar with the situation.
According to the sources, two other ISWAP fighters who contracted the highly infectious disease were allegedly executed by members of the group after efforts to treat them in Kimba village proved unsuccessful.
The incident is believed to reflect the increasingly difficult conditions inside the terrorist camps, where sustained military offensives have disrupted supply routes and severely limited access to medicines, healthcare and other essential resources.
Intelligence sources said the combination of poor hygiene, inadequate medical facilities and mounting operational pressure has left many of the insurgents vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
The sources further disclosed that military commanders have been advised to intensify efforts to intercept medical supplies and pharmaceutical products suspected of being destined for terrorist hideouts. Security officials believe cutting off access to healthcare supplies could further weaken ISWAP’s ability to treat injured or sick fighters and reduce the group’s operational capacity.
While the reports have not been independently verified, the development is seen as another indication of the mounting challenges facing the insurgent group as security forces continue sustained operations across the North-East.
The development was disclosed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In a shared post on his verified X handle, Onanuga simply announced that the victims had been released by their abductors.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” he wrote.
As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding their release, including whether any ransom was paid or the circumstances leading to their freedom, had yet to be disclosed.
The abductions occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools; Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
No fewer than 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a principal, were taken during the attacks.
During the attack, a teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape.
Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded in the kidnappers’ den.
The terrorists holding the victims had reportedly made a four-point demand before agreeing to free the captives, including the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law.
The Oyo State Government had consistently maintained that no ransom would be paid to secure the release of any victims.
The incident had triggered weeks of public anguish, with the Nigeria Union of Teachers embarking on a month-long strike in the state to press for the victims’ rescue before suspending the action in July.
It also drew federal intervention, with military and police authorities repeatedly assuring Nigerians that operations to secure the victims’ freedom were ongoing.
Reactions have trailed to trail the disclosure by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, that Nigerian soldiers now earn a minimum monthly salary of N100,000 following recent welfare reforms by the Federal Government.
Veterans and serving personnel have described the amount as grossly inadequate in the face of Nigeria’s rising cost of living, while some accused the Federal Government of failing to implement a more substantial salary review promised months ago.
The criticism comes amid renewed concerns over troop welfare, military funding, and the effectiveness of efforts to boost morale among personnel battling insecurity across the country.
A retired soldier, Abdul Isiak, argued that the current salary falls far short of what is needed to meet basic living expenses.
“It is not enough at all. What is N100,000 in the current situation of the country? It cannot go far. They should do better. If soldiers are paid more, they will be more motivated and committed to their duties,” he said.
Another retired military officer, Sergeant Zaki Williams, questioned the accuracy of the figure disclosed by the minister and described the amount as inadequate for personnel who risk their lives in service to the nation.
“I doubt if they are even paying up to that amount now. Even if they are, it is too little. Any government paying a soldier N100,000 in today’s economy is not serious enough about the welfare of its troops,” he said.
Williams noted that soldiers face enormous challenges and deserve better remuneration and working conditions.
Also reacting, the Coordinator of the Coalition for Concerned Veterans, Abiodun Herbert-Durowaye, said the salary does not reflect the sacrifices made by military personnel.
“How can that be sufficient for someone putting his life on the line for the country? Consider the cost of food, housing, transportation, and children’s education. N100,000 is far from adequate for those responsible for protecting the nation’s peace and security,” he stated.
The reactions followed comments by the Minister of Defence during an interview with News Central, where he disclosed that the minimum monthly salary of soldiers had increased from N49,000 to N100,000 under the current administration.
According to the minister, the Federal Government has made deliberate efforts to improve troop welfare despite funding challenges facing the military.
“When they started, a soldier was collecting N49,000 monthly. We tried so hard, now he’s collecting N100,000,” he said.
Musa, however, acknowledged that the defence sector remains underfunded and requires greater financial support to effectively address the country’s security challenges.
The minister also advocated stricter penalties for kidnapping, including the possibility of introducing the death penalty for convicted kidnappers, arguing that stronger deterrents are necessary to curb the growing wave of abductions across the country.
The debate over soldiers’ welfare comes at a time when the military continues to confront multiple security threats, with stakeholders insisting that improved remuneration, better equipment, and enhanced welfare packages are critical to boosting morale and operational effectiveness.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced that travellers in the United States seeking Nigerian visas must now submit their applications directly at Nigerian diplomatic missions following the termination of its contract with a third-party visa processing company.
The new directive, which takes immediate effect, ends the role previously played by Online Integrated Solutions (OIS Services), which had been responsible for receiving and processing Nigerian visa applications through its centres across the United States.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NIS Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, said visa applicants are now required to submit their documents directly at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., or at the Nigerian Consulates in New York and Atlanta until further notice.
The immigration service did not state the reason for ending its partnership with OIS Services.
However, Akinlabi assured applicants that adequate measures have been put in place at the embassy and consulates to ensure a smooth transition. He added that visa submission, processing and approval would continue without disruption.
He also urged prospective travellers to monitor the official communication channels of the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigerian diplomatic missions in the United States for updates on visa application procedures.
A Professor of Economics and Governance, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, has called on South African Government to take active responsibility of protecting foreigner and desist from ‘compromising inaction’.
Uba, Chairman of the ACUF Initiative for Policy and Governance, made the call on Thursday in Enugu in a statement he titled: “South Africa Is Playing with Fire, and Its Elites Are Holding the Match”.
He said that the lack of intentional action against the individuals and groups perpetrate the xenophobic attacks, who are non-state actors, raises serious questions under international law.
The don noted that “protection of non-nationals is a clear obligation, not a discretionary act.”
According to him, persistent failure to uphold this responsibility undermines both legal commitments and diplomatic credibility.
Uba said that the implications of the development extend far beyond South Africa, adding that it would have economically, politically and diplomatically consequences both to the country and Africa in general.
He noted that economically, the country is not just another market.
“It is a continental anchor. Its financial systems, industrial base, and regional linkages make it central to African growth.
“Prolonged instability would ripple outward, constraining trade, deterring investment, and weakening regional integration,” he said.
On the Political aspect, he said that South Africa had long been seen as a model of democratic transition and constitutionalism.
“If that model begins to fracture, it sends a powerful signal across the continent.
“It emboldens those who argue that institutional democracy cannot deliver, and it weakens reformist voices elsewhere,” he said.
Uba said that diplomatically, xenophobic violence is not a domestic issue when it targets foreign nationals.
He said, “It is an international concern that tests regional solidarity and diplomatic patience.
“Each episode forces other African governments to respond, balancing domestic outrage with the need to preserve bilateral relations.”
The don noted that over time, the balance in the country would becomes harder to maintain as non-state actors would be emboldened to perpetrate other unlawful acts as they view the government as weak or inactive.
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