- Chika Indibuisi had not yet accepted the death of her beloved husband when her in-laws started accusing her of killing him
- Not only did they ask him to drink the water used to wash his body, but they also locked his body in the ambulance
- However, the woman and her children were rescued by the state authorities, and an investigation was started on the issue with the aim of bringing those involved in the killing to justice.
Imo State, Nigeria: Tears flowed freely after a bereaved woman was reportedly asked to drink the water that was used to wash her dead body.
Source: Facebook
The young mother of three, identified as Chika Indibuisi, was accused by her in-laws of being involved in the death of her husband, Odinakachi Ndubuisi, and they forced her to drink the contaminated water.
As if that wasn’t painful enough, Chika was locked in the ambulance with her husband’s body.
While the widow continued to confess her innocence, the situation was stopped after the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Chief Nkechi Ugwu intervened with the help of security agencies and the Chairman of Oru East Local Government, following warnings from women’s advocacy groups.
He was finally saved from the brutal act.
Source: Facebook
How did Governor Uzodimma respond to the service?
Reacting to the incident, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State ordered a full investigation into the alleged ‘dead water’ widow ritual.
He described the act as barbaric, cruel, and completely unacceptable in a civilized society, and warned that anyone found guilty will face the law.
Ugwu confirmed that Chika and her children were rescued and had been placed in government custody, while several other suspects were arrested.
Governor Uzodimma said his administration will not tolerate such acts of widowhood that humiliate the person, adding that the government will not allow any act that undermines the dignity of women or the law.
What did social media users say about the event?
Bobby Joe:
“If they tell the wife to drink water, let the family members also drink from the water.”
Idorenyin Adams:
“I think some cultural practices can be abolished.”
Tarkighir Kenneth Kenson: ·
“I thought these things only happen in Igbo movies.”
Gloria Paul:
“There are parts of the family that a woman should not marry into and this family is one of those families.”
George Ogbeyi:
“It is sad to see how widows are often mistreated whenever their husbands die. In many parts of Nigeria, they are unfairly accused of complicity in the deaths of their husbands and forced to go through painful and humiliating rituals. This is a serious social injustice that must be addressed. The government and relevant authorities need to take decisive action to protect the rights and dignity of our sisters and wives, ensuring that they are treated with compassion, respect, and justice during such difficult times.”
Fehintola Samson Olusola:·
“It is truly a barbaric act. How can you force someone to drink that kind of water full of bacteria? One should not even drink water that is used to bathe a living person, let alone a corpse. Now, if a woman drinks the water and dies of an infection, they will say that it was the spirit of her late husband that killed her because she was the one who killed her husband.”
Sylvia Emeka:
“I need God to empower me financially and otherwise to help end the problem of widows..and their children, I am also one of them so I also wear the same shoes.”
Rosemary Orung:
“Does the husband also have the same faith when the wife died? Or is it only women who oppress them?”
A woman is molested at the grave of her in-laws
Earlier, Mellen Mogaka had to throw soil on her husband’s grave, but she didn’t want to do it.
He claimed his mother-in-law called and asked him to bring the children to the funeral. Shortly after, he realized that the priests, the head, as well as the security officers, had left.
The boda boda drivers entered the house and continued to say that they would watch him to prevent him from leaving.
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