The Anambra State Women and Social Welfare Commissioner Honourable Ify Obinabo over the weekend, ensured the smooth burial of late Chike Aniakor and his daughter, Chiziterem Aniakor in the family compound in Umunya, Oyi Local government area of the state.
This came following the refusal of the deceased younger brother Vincent Aniakor and the father, Obi Aniakor to bury late Chike and daughter in the family compound.
Chike Obi Aniakor, the first son of Mr Obi Aniakor died at the age of 47 years after a protracted illness while his daughter late Chiziterem Aniakor aged 2 years died two weeks after her father’s death, as a result of breathing challenge.
Recall that the deceased’s father Mr Aniakor and the younger brother Vincent had asked the wife to bury her late husband in the forest and threatened to deal with anyone who goes against their wish.
The Women Affairs Commissioner was first at the mortuary at Nteje to ensure that the corpse of the deceased was not tampered with, because of the threats given to the Aniakor widow Amarachi Nchekwube Aniakor, alleging that the body will be hijacked on the way, to stall the burial.
The state Ministry team then proceeded to Umunya and at her instance with the help of the security, they started digging the grave and the family compound was accessed by mourners and sympathizers.
Speaking before the corpse was lowered in the grave, the Anambra Women Affairs Commissioner, Obinabo noted that the present Soludo administration will not keep a blind eye over the ill treatments meted against any widow in the state and warned that perpetrators of such would be handed over to the police.
Hon Obinabo who spoke through her Special Assistant, Mrs Blessing Nweke urged the Aniakor family to embrace peace and thanked the people of Umunya especially the deceased kings men for support the poor widow and seeing that the needful is done.
“All we are interested in is according the deceased a befitting burial and we thank the kindred here for standing by the truth to ensure that things go well today.
“When the deceased widow visited our office in Awka, we made the necessary inquiries to find out what the impediment was that would necessitate the deceased not being buried in the compound and we found that there was no major issue.
“That’s why we said that we would be here today to see to it that the deceased is interred,” she said.
The Umuosegbu kindred led by Mr Chukwujekwu Olie appreciated the state government for their support in ensuring that their brother, Late Chike and daughter were buried in the compound and assured of their continued support towards the affairs of state.
Some of the people who testified during the burial all spoke well of the deceased and noted that despite his peaceful nature, he was not accorded due respect and thanked Mr Governor and Women Affairs ministry for intervening.
Present during the burial was the Umuosegbu kindred of Ajakpani Umunya, the youth, Women and staff members of the ministry of Women and Social Welfare Anambra State.