Mrs Chika Ndubuisi, a widow from Awo-Omamma in Oru East Local Government Area, was rescued on Tuesday from an alleged attempt by her late husband’s kinsmen to force her to drink water used to bathe his corpse.
The act, reportedly intended as a traditional test of innocence over her husband’s death, was thwarted following an urgent alert raised by a local women’s advocacy group.
According to reports, the group’s alarm drew the attention of the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, the local council authorities, and security agencies, who intervened promptly to prevent the act and secure the widow’s safety.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Lady Nkechinyere Ugwu, condemned the incident in strong terms, describing it as a “barbaric, cruel, and outdated widowhood practice” that has no place in modern society.
“It is shocking that in this day and age, a widow already mourning the loss of her husband would be subjected to such a dehumanising ordeal,” Lady Ugwu stated. “Normalcy has been restored, and a detailed investigation is underway. Mrs Ndubuisi and her children are now under government protection.”
She further revealed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Chairman of the Local Council and several Non-Governmental Organisations, facilitated the rescue and that arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
The wife of the state governor, Mrs Chioma Uzodinma, has also weighed in, directing a full-scale investigation to ensure that all those involved are brought to justice.
Sources indicate that Mrs Ndubuisi had been detained alongside her husband’s corpse by his relatives, who accused her of being responsible for his death.
The case has reignited calls for the eradication of harmful traditional practices against widows in Nigeria, with advocacy groups urging stronger enforcement of laws protecting women’s rights.
