MISSING PENIS: A THING OR A TREND

By Marcus Idiongo

I got to know about the Penis theft thingy from my roommate, she brought it to me as a roommate gist and I in all my stubborn glory disagreed which ensued in an intense argument between us because according to her, it was possible because of spiritual possibilities. To me, it was impossible because it defies logic and doesn’t make a sliver of sense no matter the angle we want to look at it from.

After the conversation and arguments went on and later died down, I was left alone in the comfort of my room to think of this properly, and the question I’m yet to find an answer to dropped in my mind: “How is this possible or even a thing?” The notion that an individual could lose an organ as vital as that and remain alive and well enough to ask back for it exceeded every form of logical reasoning.

This problem is a trend that comes annually as I’ve come to notice comes into play every September and October in rural and semi-rural Nigeria. It plays out in urban and rural area, with both dwellers firm believers of the atavistic belief. This article was inspired by the fact that we did not just leave this emblematic and disconcerting reality with the aged people who brought it to life, instead, we carried it with us to our generation and would most likely pass down the error.

This problem known as penis theft is predicated on the belief that an unsuspecting Male can be strolling along the road and, all of a sudden, he becomes feels “Virtue get out of him” I.e. he feels the loss of his male genitals leaving him with nothing except a flat surface with no resting place. And this missing penis is taken by a malefactor, possibly another passerby.

The search for the thief and possible recovery of the missing penis is even more annoying as the “victim” or those around easily pick anyone they like, accuse, and carry out jungle justice till they are satisfied and claim the Penis has been returned. This problem is depressing and a disconcerting narrative that is mostly purported by youths and supposed leaders of tomorrow.

Nigeria is known for unfounded superstition and the conviction that anything that can be spiritually explained, is deemed plausible and applicable to every part of day-to-day activity. This scenario has endangered the environment and given us a Soviet where anyone from anywhere can concoct anything, create tales, and broadcast them to the unsuspecting populace, then sit back and witness the tales bring about problems and cause chaos in society.

The effects of the penis trend are saddening and critical as the effects and consequences (Accusations) always land on the aged people within the community. These accusations are never taken in good faith which results in the public resulting in extra-judicial actions like jungle justice in the quest to eliminate the “Witchcraft” stealing penis.

In the heat of this heart-wrenching narrative within my locale, I attempted to explain this portraying how it does not make logical sense and the need for critical thinking and I was met with hostility and the tag, “Doubting Thomas”, and so, in a bid to avoid wahala, I decided to mind my business, keep my opinions to myself and focus on school and what makes me money.

Education and enlightenment will always be the first foundation and best place to begin when it comes to pushing for cognitive change.

Cultivating a need for rational thinking in matters that impact the general public makes for a safer and better environment for us as more and more people will think before doing or believing.

In summary, the side effects of trends such as this are trauma riding for the victims and limiting for the public. The fear that comes to our communities from these unfounded beliefs has diverse effects, dampening the possibility of building stable lasting relationships, destabilizes and traumatizing individuals, and reduces the collector care we might have for the elders cos they might steal your ” Penis”

It’s relieving to know that this problem can be solved if we know to teach people around us the need to prioritize common sense and reasoning over unfounded and illogical beliefs.