‎ANAMBRA GOVERNMENT WARNS TRADITIONAL, RELIGIOUS LEADERS AGAINST WIDOW ABUSE

‎The Anambra State Government has issued a strong warning to traditional and religious leaders across the state to desist from all forms of abuse, intimidation, humiliation, and maltreatment of widows, particularly in matters relating to inheritance and property rights.‎

‎The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Esther Chinyere Onyekesi, gave the warning on June 10 during a visit to Mrs. Nneka Azubuike Udokwu of Obosi, popularly known as Authentic Kitchen, who is currently receiving treatment at Chukwurah Hospital, Obosi, following an alleged assault.

‎Expressing concern over the increasing cases of widow abuse, Mrs. Onyekesi condemned all forms of oppression and maltreatment directed at widows. She stressed that the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo remains committed to protecting the rights and dignity of widows and will not tolerate any act of injustice against them in any community or religious institution.‎‎The Commissioner warned that appropriate sanctions would be imposed on any individual, community, or religious organization found culpable of subjecting widows to harassment, abuse, or unlawful dispossession of their late husbands’ property.

‎She decried the alleged assault and prolonged victimization suffered by Mrs. Udokwu over matrimonial property and disclosed that the state government had intervened in the matter. She further called on the traditional institution in Obosi to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that justice is served.‎‎According to Mrs. Onyekesi, reports available to the ministry indicated that Mrs. Udokwu, a widow from Umuota Village, Obosi, in Idemili North Local Government Area, was allegedly assaulted by members of her late husband’s family and left unconscious. The family was also accused of subjecting her to years of intimidation, harassment, and maltreatment during her husband’s illness and after his death in an alleged attempt to dispossess her of her matrimonial home and other properties.‎‎Mrs. Udokwu, a food and beverage entrepreneur, is currently receiving treatment for head injuries reportedly sustained during the assault. She further disclosed that her only son, 21-year-old Echezona, was allegedly murdered in his sleep by unidentified assailants.‎‎The widow alleged that the persistent harassment, physical assault, death of her husband, and killing of her son formed part of a coordinated effort to deny her access to property jointly acquired with her late husband. She stated that the matter had been reported to the Nigeria Police and further alleged that an individual popularly known as “Governor Obosi” facilitated the release on bail of suspects arrested in connection with the case.‎‎Mrs. Udokwu also alleged that while she was still mourning her husband, members of his family summoned her to appear before a deity known as Okwuolisa. She further claimed that her late husband’s brothers, Ebuka and Chukwuma Udokwu, alongside other individuals, vandalized portions of the house she jointly built with her husband and placed ritual objects within the premises in an attempt to intimidate and harass her.‎‎She revealed that she had previously reported the matter to Igwe Chidubem Iweka, the traditional ruler of Obosi and Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, but said the intervention did not yield a resolution.‎‎Mrs. Udokwu has appealed to the Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, the Women Aid Collective (WACOL), other non-governmental organizations, security agencies, and well-meaning citizens to intervene and ensure her safety and protection from further harm.