A 37-year old widow, Chinenye Okonkwo has raised the alarm over alleged oppression by brothers to her late husband in Oraifite in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra State.
The widow accused the In-laws, Bonny and CY of seizing properties her late husband left for her, including land, building and blocks, leaving her with her five children, a boy and four girls between 6 and 14years homeless.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, the victim wondered what would have warranted such inhumane actions as there was no love lost between the duo and the husband while he was alive.
She said, “Before my husband died in 2017 at age of 45, he showed me the boundary of his land. He also molded blocks for a 4bedroom flat.
“Trouble ensued when Boniface started encroaching into the land and carrying the entire blocks my husband molded to build his own house. He also cleared all my plantains.
“When I accosted him about the blocks, he said since I’m not ready to build, he’ll carry them and mold another set of blocks for me when I’m ready.
“He also brought police who arrested my brother for defending me; though was later released after being bailed.
“His elder brother, a Pastor sent my away asking me to go and look for who else will marry me that I’m still tender. He said they would consider my children when they are grown. They even threatened to kill me if they see me in the compound.
“I tried to revenge but my brother witheld me. I had to rent an apartment where I’m currently staying with my kids. I’m struggling to pay both house rent and children’s school fees.
“I took the matter to the widow’s organization and the leadership took the matter to my kindred. They asked them to leave the property my husband left behind for me. But instead, they accused anyone speaking on my behalf of sleeping with me.”
Leader of the widows in the community, Mrs. Ogechi Izuka, described the victim’s ordeal as extraordinary, calling on both government and members of the public to intervene to serve as deterrent to others planning similar actions.
She said, “I accompanied her to FIDA, Awka where she incidented the matter, including travail in the hands of the husband’s brother. The trouble makers have been served papers.
“I know we widows pass through a lot, but I don’t think I’ve seen this type before. You can’t strip a widow of everything and expect her not to cry out.
“Unfortunately, as an NGO, we don’t have the right to interfere with the family affairs. there’s a limit we can go. We can only resort to protest or demonstration if the matter is life threatening.
“We want both the government and members of the public to intervene to serve as deterrent to others who may be planning similar actions on other widows. We want this to be the last.”
A relation to the family, John Paul Okafor who corroborated the widow’s narration, regretted that the matter has lingered.
“I used to stay regularly with the husband before his death. The entire kindred had warned Bonny severally to steer clear of the woman’s property, but he refused. He’s really troublesome,” he lamented.
Chairman of the Umuodilogu kindred, Francis Okafor said he had expected the matter would have been resolved internally, but regretted it was escalated when Boniface decided to go violence.
He said the accused person is currently in police custody following a fight where certain persons sustained injuries.
He said, “Mrs Chinenye Okonkwo is part of our family. When Boniface raised the matter during our meeting, members of the family frowned and strongly condemned his actions.
“Personally, I told his brother CY, a pastor that what they’re doing to their brother’s wife is not good.
“I asked him to put himself in the shoes of the widow and see how it feels sending a widow and her children away. Rather than heed to my advice, they accused me of supporting the widow.
“I’ve not seen anyone undergoing such inhumane treatment in my life like what she’s is passing through.
“We’ve been trying to amicably resolve the matter in-house, but it escalated when Bonny and his team resorted to violence, the first of its kind in our kindred.
“Some people sustained injury in the process, including one Ichie Ogilichigbo who they threatened to kill for defending the widow.
“The injured man was compelled to report the matter to the police who got Bonny arrested. He also took the matter to court. He’s currently in police custody, while his accomplice was granted bail by court days after.”
