The people of the Ojoto community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have protested over the killing of a 69-year-old widow and indigene of the community, identified as Ifeoma Ajuluchukwu.
The deceased was said to have been murdered by her stepson (name withheld), who happened to be the first son of the first wife of the deceased’s husband.
The date the incident occurred has not been clarified, but the protesters, who besieged the premises of the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare on Monday, disclosed the development during their protest.
They came in their numbers, including the youths and the elderly while wielding placards that had various inscriptions.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the leader of the group, Emeka Nwabunike, said they came to express their grievances and also appeal for justice following the alleged gruesome murder of the widow.
Nwabunike said the people of Ojoto had heard from all the parties and also conducted an independent investigation, after which they found out that the widow was “gruesomely murdered”.
He explained that the aim of their protest was to seek justice for the murdered widow, adding that “the entire community is distressed about how the widow was sent to her early grave, while the suspect continues to walk freely.”
He commended the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, for showing interest and being proactive in the matter and also assured that the community is solidly behind the ministry in securing justice for the widow.
He said, “We plead with the commissioner to use her good offices to get justice for the slain widow. Her immediate intervention in the matter spurred us into carrying out further investigations on our own.
“We also had to involve all the parties in the matter, video evidences were also reviewed. In the end, it became obvious that Mrs Ifeoma Ajuluchukwu was murdered and she needed justice.”
Obinabo, while addressing the protesters, hailed them for choosing the right channel to express their grievances without towing the path of jungle justice.
She also commended the traditional ruler of the community and the entire people for showing concern in the matter and for the necessary steps they have taken so far on it.
She said, “The ministry has carried out far-reaching steps in the matter. Injustice, especially injustice against women, children, and the less privileged members of society, is totally abhorred and intolerable in the state under Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.
“The matter will get to the desk of the governor, and the murdered widow will get the state government’s assistance and justice.
“We swung into action immediately we received wind of the news, especially when we heard that the alleged perpetrator of the crime went behind the back to arrest community members who condemned the act because of his influence.
“The Soludo-led administration seriously condemns such rascality as well as people taking laws into their hands. I can assure you that this will get to the governor’s table and wife of the governor too, and the matter will be pursued to its logical conclusion.”
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