The Senator for Enugu East, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani has thrown his support behind efforts to eradicate cruel widowhood practices in Igboland and other parts of the country.
He said this in a Facebook post on Saturday while condemning the inhuman treatment meted out to a widow, Mrs. Amarachi Okechi, from Umueghu Amaegbuato autonomous community Nkpa in Bende local government area, Abia state, by her in-laws.
The Herald recalls that earlier in the week, a video circulated of a tied-up Mrs. Okechi being flogged for allegedly being a witch.
Her daughter, Flourish Victor disclosed that she was violently abused and held hostage for several days.
The victim was rescued by the First Lady of Abia State, Nkechi Ikpeazu, and taken to an undisclosed public hospital for treatment, it was learnt.
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Reacting, Nnamani said, “Cruel Widowhood Practices: The cruel dread that widows endure from the spouse’s family after their husband passes away is barbaric and should have no place in our society today. These widows experience oppressive and demeaning treatments.
“In an effort to deface, defile, deny, deprive and covet their inheritance they are accused of witchcraft, locked up in a room to avoid human interaction, their hair shaved with razor or broken bottle and in extreme cases made to drink the water used in Washing their husband’s corpse. The norms and traditions of those villages that still perpetuate such atrocities ought to be rejected because they are abhorrent and revolting.
“No woman, and I mean no woman, should be forced to endure what Mrs. Amarachi Okechi, from Umueghu Amaegbuato autonomous community Nkpa in Bende local government area, Abia state, did at the hands of her husband’s brother and the wife.”
The former Enugu governor commended the victim’s daughter, Flourish Victor, for speaking out.
“I also want to encourage all well-meaning Nigerians to speak out against the heinous tradition our people have chosen to uphold. I totally condemn the heinous terror and wickedness that the young men in her community inflicted on her,” Nnamani added.
He expressed gratitude to Mrs Ikpeazu, and human rights campaigner, Harrison Gwamnishu “for saving the day”.