The Ministry of Women and Social Welfare in Anambra State has intervened in a potentially distressing situation where a widow’s in-laws were reportedly planning to bury her late husband inside a forest.
Mrs Amarachi Anakor, the widow, brought the distressing issue to the attention of the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo.
According to the widow, her late husband’s father and brother, Obi Anakor and Vincent Anakor, were adamant about not allowing her to bury her late husband in their compound. Instead, they insisted on burying him in a forest.
“I’m a native of Ifitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area, and my late husband, Chike Anakor, is from Umunya in Oyi Local Government Area.
“My in-laws were the first people I notified when my husband died, but I was shocked when they told me that my husband was stripped of his rights when he was alive, hence he will not be buried in the compound,” she said.
Following the widow’s report, the commissioner facilitated a meeting with the families and kinsmen involved.
“At the meeting, the Anakor family were given seven days to fix a date for the burial of late Chike Anakor, but their representative, Vincent Anakor, disagreed with the resolution,” Mrs Obinabo revealed.
She further mentioned that with the support of their kinsmen from Umuosegbu kindred in Ajakpani, Umunya, led by Mr Chukwujekwu Olie, the Ministry has arranged for the burial to take place on Friday, Nov. 10.
Urging for peace, the commissioner emphasized that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration has a zero tolerance for any form of inhumane act and injustice against women. She called on all parties involved to embrace peace and ensure the deceased is buried appropriately. (NAN)
