By Chinonso Alozie, Owerri

WIDOWS in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, have asked Igbo leaders to look into their sufferings as a result of intimidation from their late husbands’ relatives.

Some of the widows spoke in an interview with South East Voice, at the Fatima Secondary School, Orieagu in the area, while receiving relief materials from a philanthropist, Mr. Chris Chigbo Nwadigo. The materials included 10 kg bags of Abakalike rice, condiments, tissue papers as well as cash donations among others.

Those who narrated their ordeals, said that they had been “abandoned” even as their “burdens” had increased due to oppression by their husbands’ relatives and appealed to Igbo leaders to include their welfare as part of their deliberations on the general development of the south east geopolitical zone.

Mr. Chris Nwadigo (middle), flanked by widows at the Fatima Secondary School Orieagu in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, yesterday. Photo: Chinonso Alozie.

They said that most of them were made to pass through oppressive widowhood practices including dispossession of property they jointly acquired with their late spouses.

Mrs Veronica Chikezie from Umunumo, said that widows in Igbo land are in a very big “trouble” adding that the lack of attention, had further increased their challenges. She said, “It is a very big burden to be a widow and there are many challenges. People will continue to insult you and deprive you of all your rights. We are in a very big trouble in this society as widows.”

Mrs. Esther Nnorum from Agbeje, said, “We have been passing through difficult times since our husbands died. It is very hard for us to feed our children or pay their school fees.”

Other widows who spoke in the same vein lamented the deprivations they were made to go through as widows, and pleaded with community leaders to put their plights in the front burner with other issues affecting the development of the south east geopolitical zone.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Nwadigo, had lamented the plight of the widows, saying that he was touched by the “unfortunate circumstances associated with widowhood in the society, especially at this time of economic recession.”

According to him, it was for these reasons that he decided to reach out to the widows to ameliorate their difficulties. “What I am saying is that you should not forget that God Almighty is with you and will always meet you at every point of your needs. We are aware of the unfortunate situation that you are passing through and I plead with good spirited individuals in our society to find time to put smile on the faces of the poor especially the widows,” he added.