Women protesting the unwholesome treatment of widows in Anambra communities. Photo: Uche Ndeke/Radio Nigeria
Some Women Rights Activists in Anambra state have expressed worry over the increasing number of unwholesome widowhood practices in the area.
During a peaceful protest to the premises of the Anambra Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Court located in Amawbia, Awka South Local government area, the women called on the government, security agencies and community leaders to rise up against such practices.
The Spokesperson of the group, Hope Okoye said the protest was a clarion call to review the existing obnoxious traditions and expunge all forms of harmful practices against widows, women and the girl child.
She said for the past two months, there have been up to five cases of abuse and violence against women and the girl child in some local government areas in the state including Ogbaru and Ihiala local government areas.
Recounting the story of Mrs Patricia Eligbue, the group said the widow forced to drink water used in bathing the corpse of her husband in Atani community.
Mrs Okoye who is the Chairperson of Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAAP in Anambra state therefore called on well-meaning indigenes of the state to lend their voices and speak against every form of ill-treatment meted against women.
She also urged the state government to through its Sexual and and Gender Based Violence Court protect the women by ensuring that justice is saved on the perpetrators irrespective of their social status.
Dehumanizing Widows
In a related development, one of the suspects involved in the dehumanizing of a widow in Atani community of Ogbaru local government area of Anambra state has been arraigned in court by the Nigeria Police.
Albert Eligbue who is the brother-in-law to the window was arraigned before the Anambra state Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting at the Chief magistrate court Amawbia on a five-count charges.
The suspect and others were alleged to have forced the widow to drink water used in bathing her dead husband.
When the charges were read and interpreted, Alber pleaded not guilty of the charges and applied for bail.
The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 and a reliable surety in like sum and who must be either the Traditional ruler, Prime Minister or President General of Atani community among other requirements.
Albert was later remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Centre Awka pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions while the case was adjourned to the 7th day of June 2023 for hearing.
Woman arrested for abusing house help
The Nigerian police have apprehended one Chinyere Ifesinachi for physically abusing her house help in Nnnewi.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ify Obinabo told Newsmen the Anambra state government has warned that anyone caught abusing a child or ward in the state must be made to face the consequences of their actions.
The abused child in Anambra. Photo. Uche Ndeke/Radio Nigeria
Shortly after she was apprehended, the 25-year-old suspect agreed to have used both cane and pestle to beat the house help to pulp for mistakenly throwing her newborn baby on the ground.
Chinyere however pleaded with the Commissioner and security agencies to forgive her blaming her actions on the devil.
Her arrest followed a viral video on social media showing the little girl who sustained several injuries on her face as well as old and new marks of canes from her caregiver.
Reporting by Uche Ndeke, Editing by Chinasa Ossai and Annabel Nwachukwu