Incest is marriage or sexual intercourse with a relative committed within the prohibited degree of consanguinity. Incest is sexual contact between close blood relatives, including brothers and sisters, parents and children, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles with nephews or nieces. It is a crime done against culture and traditions of a community. Such sexual relationships is termed “Nsọ Ani”, “Alụ” and very damaging to the family involved. It is an atrocious sin committed against the spirit of the land. How can one be comfortable enough to have sex with their own blood? Sexual relations between people classed as being too closely related to marry each other, is a crime! What kind of emotions does one have to dignify sexual intercourse with a parent, child, sibling, or grandchild? Why is incest a crime? It is because the law defines “family member” as someone closely related to you, that you cannot legally marry. The main reason behind laws that make it a crime, is that it causes harm to family relationships and can result in genetic defects in children.
Do you know when siblings mate, inbreeding occurs. It is known as “alụ ka alu”. This is when two closely related organisms mate with each other and produce offspring. The two main negative consequences of inbreeding are increased risk of undesirable genes and a reduction in genetic diversity. There are scientific reasons why incest is prohibited. It is to avoid inbreeding. A collection of genetic disorder suffered by children of parents with a close genetic relationship. Such children risk congenital disorders, death, developmental and physical disabilities. The risk is proportional to how close their parents are. Victims of incest suffer gravely throughout their lifetime. They are damaged mentally and emotionally for years. Many, deal with feelings of guilt, shame, sadness, have anger management problems and distrust. Some victims become suicidal and others take their own lives.
Recently, stories of how fathers raped and impregnated their daughters trended. A five-year-old stepdaughter was brutally raped! Another was about a woman, whose son fathered her three children. Tụfịakwa!! Bizarre stories pop up daily. The law enforcement personnel are not equipped to prosecute such offenders. The slow processes of the nation’s courts further add insult to injury as some cases, even when reported are settled out of court. This accounts for the paucity of data on cases of incest in our society today. Incest is a crime in Nigeria by virtue of Section 3, subsection 1, sub-sub section b of the Matrimonial Causes Act. Also, Section 33 of the Marriage Act forbids sexual relations and marriage among people who are related by blood. It is captured as “Prohibited degree of consanguinity.” Incestuous relationships or marriages are further prohibited in the 1st Schedule (Section 3) of the Matrimonial Causes Act, Cap 220, Law of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990, where it lists the prohibited degree of consanguinity to include that between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and sister, uncle and aunt, niece, and nephew. Plus, Section 214 (3) of the Criminal Code Act (a criminal law that is applicable in and covers all parts of Nigeria), Caption 77, Law of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) prescribes a minimum of 14 years’ imprisonment for those found guilty of incestuous liaison, which it referred to as “offence against morality.”
In Igbo tradition, incest is a grievous crime (alu kwoo nwa) against the land and entire populace. Many blame the surge of incest in Igbo land on broken homes, substance abuse ie mkpulu mmiri, rape, segregation among families. Incest is a forbidden redline many families fear to discuss because of the discomfort and trauma associated with it. The big challenge is that parents fail in parenting. Incest is horrendous and brings shame and stigma on the family. This is the reason many incidences are not reported to the authorities for criminal prosecution.
Presently, incest is a widespread cultural taboo. Most modern and past societies have laws regarding incest.
Parents should educate their children to know more about their family tree, from 1st to present generation. Failure to do this, makes siblings prone to committing incest knowingly or unknowingly which results to setbacks, calamities, Sudden death, infant mortality, Giving birth to imbeciles among other negative effects. According to tradition, the act cannot be redeemed by the blood of JBoy! Stop such relationships immediately, then meet wise elders/kindreds in the family and report yourself. Strive to make amends via a good dibịa Ajani through thorough spiritual cleansing “ịkpụ alụ”, no matter your position in the society whether a Christian or non Christian. Both parties should be involved in the cleansing processes, if possible. Take heed, do not have sex with your mother, father, brother, sister, step brother or sister, Aunty’s or uncle’s children either from Father’s or mother’s side. This means same lineages, do not have sex with your grandparents families. Many families in diaspora are guilty of incestuous crimes due to alienation, between them and their roots, they hardly bring their children home for them to familiarize their children with their culture and tradition until they commit the blunder. In conclusion, everyone should be able to make life easier by embracing their culture and tradition for a better future as they serve as a moral and social compass in this 21st century of moral decadence that pervades the world.
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DIBIA NWANGWU UCHENDU 