Lady Ndidi Mezue, the Anambra State Commissioner for Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs, has paid a visit to Mrs Veronica Mgbokwa Nwafor, a 98-year-old widow whose house was demolished by her stepsons and their accomplices in Imeohia, Ururo, Umunze, in the state's Orumba South Local Government Area.
The cottage being built for the elderly widow by her stepson (son of her late husband's third wife) was reportedly wrecked by her other stepsons (sons of another wife)
The visit to Nwafor's family on Friday was in response to a direction from the state administration to intervene swiftly in the matter, determine the reasons for such horrible behaviour, and seek a prompt resolution.
Just over a week ago, social media was flooded with images of a shattered house that had progressed to the roofing stage.
Other footage showed the elderly woman weeping and being consoled by worried family and friends.
The reported stories that accompanied the footages enraged social media users and alarmed observers, prompting requests to relevant authorities to guarantee that justice is served properly.
According to family legend, the late Nwafor Okoro married a second wife to care for his small children shortly after his first wife died, and then married a third wife a few years later.
Mr Linus Nwafor, the third wife's son, whose late mother had resided in a thatched house provided to them by their late husband with the second wife, chose to build a new house for his stepmother, who took care of him and other stepchildren when their moms died.
Mrs Veronica Mgbokwa Nwafor, the nonagenarian second wife, is left with only her married daughter, whom she has been living with for almost thirteen years, after losing her only son.
However, a few weeks after the four-room bungalow was nearly completed, the enraged sons of the first wife, numbering three, and other assailants tore down a major portion of the house, claiming, according to kinsmen, that the widow has no right to live in the area because she has no son.
Emmanuel Nwafor, Izuchukwu Nwafor, Chidiebere Nwafor, and their mother, Helen Nwafor, are still on the loose, albeit one of them is currently cooling down at Zone 13 of the Nigerian Police Headquarters in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area.
Mr Linus Nwafor, the son of the third wife who built the house for the nonagenarian stepmother, said his stepbrothers threatened him with death and threatened to demolish the structure if he ever attempted to build it, but he urged them to take the traditional approach to the matter, and that if it is eventually proven that the woman has no right of residence in her husband's house, he would leave the house for them.
He asked the government to intervene, noting that his goal is to provide the stepmom with a suitable home and allow her to retire happily in her own home.
Mr Chinedu Onyejeka, the chairman of the kindred, testified that the family's issue had been brought up in their meetings, and that the widow had called him numerous times to say that since his stepson had been the only one looking after her since she became ill more than thirteen years ago, she was giving everything she had to him in the event of her death.
Lady Mezue, the Commissioner, described the occurrence as barbarous in an interview, but promised that the state government had already taken over the issue and would bring it to a conclusion.
Governor Willie Obiano has already directed that the project be continued with immediate effect, she said, adding that the ministry is seriously engaging grassroots women monitors scattered across all of Anambra State's communities to monitor related issues and report back to the ministry for further intervention.
The team then went to Ukpo's Zone 13 Police Headquarters, where one of the suspects is being held.
Mrs Ify Obinabo, the Chairman of the Orumba North Transition Committee, and Chief Cyprian Okereke, the Chairman of the Orumba South Transition Committee, were also in the visiting party.
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