Since the time of Hippocrates, the ‘Father of Medicine’, around 400 B.C., medical science is yet to document a single case of mystically-disappearing manhood. But in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), well above 100 of such cases have been said to have occurred within the past three months.
In other parts of the country, many claim to have also heard about numerous such cases. It is not uncommon to see irreverent skit makers weave content out of such common anxieties that produce disturbing results.
On October 13 last month, a man on evangelising mission accused of snatching someone’s manhood was lynched by a mob at One Man Village, an area in Nasarawa State just outside the Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT). The killers of the victim, who was said to be a member of Living Faith Church, fled before police arrived at the scene.
Earlier, on Thursday, October 5, a commercial cyclist identified as Yahuza died in hospital after he was brutally attacked by a mob in Nyanya following an allegation by one of his passengers that he caused his manhood to disappear during a brief ride.
The FCT Commissioner of Police announced subsequently that between September 21 when the first case of missing manhood was reported in Gwagwalada and last week, there had been no fewer than 62 cases of alleged disappearance of manhood reported to the police in the territory.
“The first case of male organ disappearance was first recorded in Gwagwalada on 21/09/2023. It has spread all over FCT whereby as of today, we have had a total of sixty-two (62) cases reported. Fifty-one (51) have been suspects charged to court for giving false information and inciting public disturbance,” he said.
Still, many who claim to know someone that knows someone who is a victim have continued to spread fears about alleged disappearance of manhood, especially in Abuja suburbs and other towns.
For instance, Mr. Adamson, an otherwise well-educated worker with a private firm in Wuse, could not hide his disdain for any thought that a conversation about missing manhood is an unserious affair. He would not hesitate to bring out the ‘antidotes’ he carries about in his pocket nowadays – an unbroken piece of bitter kola and a stone-sized charcoal.
According to him and several other men close to Wuse Market, these odd objects generate enough metaphysical vibrations to counter the curious powers of unidentified people who routinely perform the odd exercise of magically snatching away any man’s manhood for the gratification of some equally odd, manhood-hungry gods.
So where do the disappearing phalluses go? To some distant shrine where they are received in some calabash, with a sprinkling of the victim’s blood on top – like some serving of Mama Put amala or in the closet of some sex-hungry madams with sated appetite for battery-operated vibrators? Till date, no one knows with any measure of certainty; the superstitious realm appears convincing or comforting enough.
One common explanation is that witches, wizards and politicians conspire to somehow use the item for replication of wealth and acquisition of more political influence.
A conviction about the presence of paranormal powers and occurrences spans across the tapestry of diverse cultures, but there exists a distinctive peculiarity in the manner through which this belief manifests in the heart of Africa. It is such that some assert that our belief systems could be part of reasons why the rest of the world seems to have sprinted ahead while we linger in the shadows of political and economic underdevelopment.
The African cosmology, deeply interwoven with spirituality, could be seen as a key factor predisposing us to a pattern of belief that borders on the mystical and superstitious. This unique worldview, rich with the essence of spirituality, may have in its intricate fabric threads of superstition which add to the complex tapestry of our belief systems.
For those old enough, it is easy to recall that in few cities during the 1970s, there were fears about the possibility of one’s masculinity vanishing into thin air like mist upon shaking hands or having mere physical contact with a person rumoured to possess unfathomable mystical prowess. Such apprehension, like the ebbing tide, would periodically retreat, only to resurface again, casting its shadow upon us. Note too, that once in a long while; we get enthusiastically regaled with stories of how someone turned children or even grown men into tubers of yam.
Now, the ‘missing manhood’ fears that once gripped parts of Nigeria during the 1980s before a decisive threat of summary detention by the military regime ended it currently manifests beyond Abuja.
Just last month, Delta State Police spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed an arrest and warned the public in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“On Sunday, 8th October, 2023, at DBS Road Asaba, this 18-year-old suspect, Ebube Linus, raised a false alarm that an old woman inside a tricycle touched him and his manhood (penis) disappeared. Over 100 misguided touts gathered and mobbed this woman, stripping her naked and beating her to a stupor to the point of almost killing her,” he stated.
Yet one Vincent Nwosu, a resident of Garki, who is in his 30s, asserts that missing manhood is real because it once happened to him.
“I went to sleep as a whole man, but upon waking, it had vanished. I searched high and low, but there was no sign of it. It’s as if it evaporated into thin air. But after shutting myself in and doing one hour of mighty prayers, God restored it,” he said in a really incredible tale.
A disturbing viral video clip that circulated in October had shown a 68-year-old widow, Mrs Ann Ekechukwu, mobbed, stripped naked and later handed over to the police over allegations that she ‘stole’ someone’s manhood during a ride in a commercial tricycle in Asaba, Delta State.
Concerned about how anxieties spurred by the new wave of allegedly disappearing genitals may negatively affect its annual internationally-known ‘Calabar Festival’ that holds every December, the Cross River State Government sought an immediate end to such talks and the beatings that sometimes follow.
In a September 12, 2023 press statement, the state government emphatically described reports of disappearing genitals as “fake news” and threatened to apply “the full· wrath of the law” against anyone found to have a hand in spreading such accusations/rumours. Still, the problem persists!
Last month too, the Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordered the arrest of NSCDC officers seen in a video clip circulated online, following their vicious beating up of a man who was alleged to have stolen the genitalia of two men.
In Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, the disturbing phenomenon of alleged missing manhoods have culminated into cases of cruel physical assaults. The problem allegedly caused by the powers of sorcery and witchcraft resulted into numerous reports of men losing their penises – partially or completely – while walking through the streets, waking up in bed, during sexual activity or just passing by someone who appears to have some unseen magical powers.
In spite of the serious warnings from FCT Police Command, the unusual and perplexing phenomenon has gripped the population and a wave of mass hysteria has swept across many neighbourhoods, leaving people bewildered and anxious.
It is a peculiar situation that defies logical explanation. And as rumours and fear spread, many are left in distress and anxiety that lead them to resort to all manner of counter-measures.
Consequently, some people no longer respond to greetings or requests for direction from strangers. Others now stay more alert while sharing seats in commercial vehicles and some others find faith in having objects like a small Bible or a combination of charcoal and bitter kola in their pockets.
The most worrisome aspect of the problem of alleged missing manhood in Abuja is the ease with which it is causing mob lynching across the FCT.
Rahab Emmanuel, a housewife and mother of four, told the FCT Commissioner for Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Mr Ezekiel Musa Dalhatu, how she was almost lynched for allegedly stealing a man’s genitals at Gosa village along the Abuja-Airport Road.
Rahab, who eked out a living by doing domestic chores for people, said that a man who gave her N200 for her to buy biscuit for her little child suddenly turned around and started shouting that his manhood was missing. Before she could process what was happening, several young men had appeared with sticks and other objects that they used on her before she was taken into the area’s vigilante office nearby.
Psychological and Medical Explanations.
Danjuma, a police detective, attributes most cases of alleged genital disappearance to criminals’ ploys aimed towards diverting public attention or putting potential victims into threat situations.
He said: “When a man is dragged out of his car and beaten up over allegations of stolen manhood, no one asks about what happens to the money or telephone handset in his pocket.
“And worse things have been known to happen because frustrated, angry youths easily join in spontaneous application of jungle justice on any unfortunate victim.”
Remi Kehinde Ojewumi, a university lecturer who has a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology, thinks that there may be a psychological explanation for the problem.
Ojewumi said: “We deal with what we can verify objectively. Again, are you aware of what we call ‘Group Control’? This means that people around us can influence our thoughts and behaviour in a numbers of ways.
“Also, look up the concept of ‘Self-fulfilling prophecy’ and you can see that a whole lot of this phenomenon can be explained by Psychology. A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that comes true at least in part as a result of a person’s belief or expectation that said prediction would come true.”
Delving into the database of medical research, one easily comes up with ‘Koro Syndrome’ which somewhat bears close similarity to the missing manhood issue being reported in Abuja.
In men, Koro may manifest as the unwarranted conviction that their penis is undergoing a gradual vanishing act. Conversely, in women, the fear may centre around the perceived shrinking or disappearance of their breasts. This highly localised and culture-specific manifestation of anxiety underscores the influence of cultural beliefs on mental health.
Part of the scientific literature of the United States’ National Institute of Health published on February 21, 2023 and made available online is a paper: ‘Koro Syndrome: Epidemiology, Psychiatric and Physical Risk Factors, Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options’ authored by Yukino Strong and nine others, following a study in parts of Asia where there were claims about the retraction or ‘disappearance’ of male genitals.
“Koro syndrome is a multi-tiered disease presenting as an overwhelming belief that one’s sex organs are shrinking into their body. Moderate to severe anxiety attacks are associated with the condition, along with a fear of imminent death.
“Koro is often culturally related and is most seen as an epidemic form in East and Southeast Asia, although it can present anywhere worldwide in its sporadic form. The condition typically affects young males who believe in sex-related myths, and many individuals can co-present with anxiety, depression, or even psychosis.
“Although most presentations of Koro are self-limiting, the condition is harmful for one’s self-esteem and quality of life, and some individuals may go through extreme, physically injurious measures to prevent genital retraction. Treatments include the use of psychotherapy that has a sex education component, especially if the patient believes in culturally rooted myths.
“In sporadic Koro, it is believed that if the primary psychiatric disorder is treated with anxiolytics, antidepressants, sedatives, or psychotics, the secondary Koro-like symptoms will also fade.
“Additional investigation on the prevalence, pathogenesis, factors that correlate with treatment efficacy are needed to fully understand Koro syndrome,” the researchers stated.
Addressing Koro is a delicate task, as it involves not only the individual’s mental well-being but also the cultural and societal beliefs that contribute to the condition’s persistence. While psychological interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy can help individuals manage their distress and anxiety, broader strategies are required to address the cultural and social factors perpetuating Koro.
Education and awareness play a crucial role in dispelling myths and misconceptions related to sexuality that contribute to the onset of Koro. Open dialogue within affected communities, led by mental health professionals and cultural leaders, can help individuals understand the psychological underpinnings of the condition and encourage more constructive belief systems.
No doubt, Abuja may need more that the threat from the FCT Commissioner of police before the scare of missing manhood becomes a thing of the past once again.
The spate of untold merciless beatings of randomly suspected manhood thieves across several Nigerian towns and cities call for great attention.
While speculations run rampant, numerous individuals, including experts, traditional healers, and religious figures who proffer their own interpretations and remedies only add to the intrigue surrounding this peculiar crisis.
