A 37-year old widow, Chinenye Okonkwo has called for intervention by Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, following her sack from her husband’s compound by his brother.
The young widow who hails from Umuodiogu, Umunakwa Ifite, Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area spoke to journalists at the weekend, saying that following her sack from the family compound, she has rented an apartment, and this has increased her burden as she also has school fees and feeding to take care of.
The mother of five children said: “My husband died in 2017 at age of 45. Since then, his brother, Boniface Okonkwo, popularly known as “Over Heat”, started encroaching into my late husband’s land. He carried the entire blocks my husband moulded to build his own house.
“When I accosted him about the blocks, he said since I’m not ready to build, he will carry them and mould another set of blocks for me when I’m ready.
“Now, he and his elder brother called Pastor have sent me away, asking me to go and look for someone else to marry me that I’m still young. I’m struggling to pay both house rent and children’s school fees,” she lamented.
She said she has taken the matter to the community’s widows organisation, community leaders and others, but his brothers in-law have remained adamant.
Chairman, Umuodiogu kindred, Mr Francis Okafor who was at the briefing condemned actions of the widow’s brother-in-law. He said the community has waded into the matter, and Mr Boniface Okonkwo has been arrested.
Anambra State Police Command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, a Deputy Superintendent of Police confirmed that the in-law, Okonkwo was in their custody. “We’re about to conclude investigation before being arraigned will take place,” he stated.
BY SUNNY A. DAVID
