In many societies of the world, female genital mutilation (FGM) is outlawed because it violates the rights of the girl-child. This study appraised the efficacy of the law prohibiting FGM among the Igede ethnic group in Benue State, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the impact of anti-FGM legislation on the prevalence and factors influencing the practice despite, as well as the intersections of cultural, social, and economic forces with legal provisions in shaping the experiences of women and girls who have undergone FGM. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Data were collected through questionnaires from 393 respondents and interviews conducted on 20 key informants. The quantitative data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations and Chi-square, while qualitative data were reported thematically. Findings revealed that while awareness of the anti-FGM law was high, knowledge of penalties and reporting pathways was low. It was also found that enforcement of the law was weak and prevalence remained high, with 95.8% reporting personal experiences and 97.2% confirming that their relations were mutilated. Findings also revealed cultural beliefs linking FGM to womanhood, purity, reduced promiscuity, marriageability as well as strong social pressure, economic incentives for practitioners continued to undermine legal compliance. The study concluded that legislation alone is insufficient to eliminate FGM without simultaneous cultural reorientation and community-driven behavioural change. It was recommended that the enforcement of anti-FGM law should be strengthened, provision of social support systems and community-level sensitisation on the law.