By Praise Chinecherem
The Anambra State government has assured of protection and justice to Mrs Chinenye Okonkwo, the widow chased out of her late husband’s house by her brother in law in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state.
Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo who gave the assurance when she visited the victim at her hometown in Oraifite promised the victim of bringing her back to her house and recovering her properties.
She reiterated government’s readiness to fight the course of widows in the state, warning that the era of widows’ oppression, harassment and intimidation were over.
Narrating her ordeal, the widow said, “After my husband’s death in 2017, his brother, Overheat Okonkwo first took my moulded blocks which I intended using without my consent.
“He also tried ejecting me from my business premises before finally forcefully ejecting me from my husband’s house.”
According to the widow, the brother-in-law claimed that since her husband was dead and she was still tender, she was of no use in the family anymore.
“My brother in law also divided my late husband’s land and built on it boasting that nothing will happen. He demanded that my five children be handed over to him for guidance.
“Although he has been summoned by the kindred, but nothing good came out of the meeting,” she added.
The commissioner later visited the widow’s mother in-law to hear her side of the story, from where she proceeded to the land where a gigantic structure has already been erected.
She also summoned the suspect to her office on Tuesday for hearing.
