Maduako Igbokwe I Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024
LAGOS, Nigeria – A 37-year old widow and mother of five children, Chinenye Okonkwo of Umuodiogu, Umunakwa Ifite, Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State has lamented the forceful take over her late husband’s property by the brothers.
According to the widow, her late husband brothers Bonniface Okonkwo and Cyprian Okonkwo drove her away and took over her husband’s landed property leaving her with nothing to take care of the five children left behind by her late husband.
She said the children are one boy and four girls between the ages of 6 to 14years, who are now fatherless and homeless.
Mrs Okonkwo who spoke with journalists in Oraifite at the weekend said both Umuodilogu village kindred and the widows’ organisation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area where she belonged had tried to settle the matter but their efforts could not yield needed results.
According to her, before her husband died in 2017 at age of 45, he had shown her the boundary of his land and the blocks he moulded to build a 4bedroom flat.
She said that trouble started when Boniface popularly known as “Over Heat”, started encroaching into the land and started carrying blocks her husband moulded to build a house.
The widow said in the process the husband brother also cleared her plantains plantation.
” When I accosted him about the blocks, he said since I am not ready to build, he will carry them and mould another set of blocks for me when I am ready” she said .
She also lamented that the same Boniface brought police and arrested her brother for defending her .
Mrs Okonkwo in tears, lamented that his late husband elder brother, known as a Pastor sent her away with five children from the compound, asking her to go and look for another husband who will marry her .
According to her,the elder brother to her late husband said they would consider her children when they are grown up.
She stated that late husband’s brothers even threatened to kill her if she is seen in the compound for any reason.
” I had to leave the compound and rent an apartment where I am currently staying with my five children. I am struggling to pay both the house rent and children’s school fees because I am denied everything from my husband property and family .
“I had taken the matter to the widows’ organization and the leadership took the matter to my husband kindred. They told them to leave the property for me. But instead, they accused any person trying to speak in my favour of having affair with me” she lamented
Speaking also , the Leader of the widows’ organisation in the community, Mrs Ogechi Izuka said they had reported the matter to the International Federation of Women Lawyers Awka, and they have been served papers.
She however lamented that their NGO, does not have the right to interfere in family affairs in that community, noting that there is a limit they can go, hence approaching the women’s lawyers.
According to her ,they can only take to protest or demonstration if the matter is life threatening.
She pleaded for both the government and members of the public to intervene to protect her and the children.
According to her, there is need for the case to serve as a deterrent to others who may be planning similar actions on other widows.
She said that they want this maltreatment to her to be the last in the community.
Chairman, Umuodilogu kindred, Mr Francis Okafor described the action of Okonkwo family to the widow as condemnable .
According to him, the accused person is currently in police custody following fight where certain persons sustained injuries.
“We have been trying to amicably resolve the matter in-house, but it escalated when Boniface and his team resorted to violence, the first of its kind in our kindred.
“They even threatened to kill one of our kinsmen for defending the widow,” he said.
Confirming suspect’s arrest, police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga said police are still investigating the matter and will charge the suspect to court after investigations.
