The Anambra State Government has launched an investigation into the alleged murder of 69-year-old widow Ifeoma Philomena Ajuluchukwu by her stepson.
In a statement on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, revealed that the woman’s stepson, Chiugo Emmanuel Ajuluchukwu, brutalized the widow in her compound in Ojoto, Idemili South council area of the state, leading to her death.
According to the statement signed by the media aide to the commissioner, Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the matter came to light after the son of the deceased, Onyebuchi Christopher Ajuluchukwu, reached out to the ministry.
“According to the son, his late father married two wives but unfortunately lived with only his mother, while the first wife remarried a long time ago and wedded in Port Harcourt, but upon the first wife’s death, the son, who is equally his stepbrother, Chiugo Emmanuel Ajuluchukwu, trained by his mother, swore never to let his mother have peace in the compound.
“Mr. Onyebuchi further revealed that it was in his bid for the stepbrother to bury his mother in the family compound, which no one objected to, that he started removing the roof over their mother’s room and vowed to deal with her mercilessly.
“The son of the deceased also stated that his stepbrother did not stop there but went further to beat up his mother, who at the time was already sick. He said that it was while beating her that neighbours gathered and took his mother to the hospital, where she finally gave up and joined her ancestors.”
Responding, Obinabo assured him that she would look into the matter and get justice for his late mother.
She warned that anyone caught maltreating any widow in the state will be handled like a criminal, as it is against the law.
The commissioner urged members of the public to always report any act of crime within and outside the neighbourhood for the betterment of the state.
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