A 10-year-old girl has died from complications that arose after undergoing female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone, authorities said.
Marie Kamara, a primary school student in Matetie village, died during an initiation into a secret women’s society that involves the practice of female genital mutilation, also known as FGM, police said.
One of the initiators, Ya Naro Kargbo, has been arrested and is helping with the investigation, said Sgt. Abdulrahman Sankoh, the regional media officer. Kargbo is in custody and could not be reached for comment.
Police said they are searching for other initiators and the girl’s mother.
Seven other children who survived initiation were handed over to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, police said.
Sankoh said parents bring their children to undergo the procedure.
In Sierra Leone, 90% of women ages 15 to 49 have undergone female genital mutilation, according to UNICEF.
