The Senator Representing Kogi West in the Nigerian Senate, Dino Melaye has whipped up support for the new bill he wants to submit to the senate on the prohibition of tribal mark.

The Senator surely knows how to use the social media to stir the public in the direction of his course. That was exactly what he did with a photo he tweeted on Sunday. The photo showed an infant with freshly made tribal marks on his face. In a caption to the painful looking photo, the senator revealed that he was going to sponsor a bill to ban tribal marking in Nigeria.

Tribal marks are scarifications which are specific identification and beautification marks designed on the face or body of people in Africa.

The tribal marks are part of the culture of many ethnic groups in Africa and are usually inscribed on the body by burning or cutting of the skin during childhood.

“This barbaric act must stop. National Identity card is enough to identify where individuals come from. Support my bill to stop this ….,” he tweeted.

This barbaric act must stop. National Identity card is enough to identify where individuals come from. Support my bill to stop this …. pic.twitter.com/3He9PEKCER

— Senator Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) November 13, 2016

The response was almost like magic as the post earned more than 1000 retweets and over 300 likes as soon as it was posted. Many retweeters also offered to work with the Senator on the project to stop tribal marks.

It is not known what the bill will be called or how it will go, but all acts that can be proven as cruelty to children are already punishable under the Child Rights Act which has been domesticated in many states in the country.

See some of the reactions to Melaye’s proposition below.