It is no longer news that there is a tradition prevalent in the Eastern part of Nigeria where widows are forced to drink the water used to bathe the corpse of their deceased husband to prove their innocence of the death.

While it is believed that the practice of such tradition has largely reduced due to its condemnation, there is no doubt that women are still being vilified and accused of killing their husbands, especially when the man is wealthy.

A similar practice reared its ugly head in Abia state recently, but this time, it is not about the death of a husband, it involved the death of a lady after an illness and an older woman was accused of having a hand in the circumstances that led to her death.

To prove her innocence, the woman simply identified as Mama Thankgof was forced by the deceased’s family to hold the hand of the lady’s corpse and swear with it in the presence of the villagers.

It was gathered that the incident occurred during the funeral of the lady at Ibeku community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State.

Footage of the incident was shared on social media by one of the eyewitnesses and it looked like a scene in a Nollywood movie where veteran actress Patience Ozokwor is labelled a witch who has killed some villagers and is forced to prove her innocence by swearing an oath at the village square.

The video was captioned:

“This young lady suddenly fell sick and died in Amuzukwu, Ibeku, Abia State. Her people from Ebonyi State insisted she was killed by a neighbour Mama Thankgod and this (swearing with the corpse) happened on her burial day.

If nothing happens to the accused after seven days, then she is innocent. Though the lady’s kinsmen are saying it should be six months according to their traditions.”

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In the footage, the accused, Mama Thankgod, was seen surrounded by a crowd of villagers compelling her to hold the hand of the deceased lying in a coffin.

Holding the deceased’s hand, the woman went on to swear, speaking in Igbo:

“If I know anything or have a hand in the situation that led to your death, in the name of Jesus, may I not see tomorrow and may everything about me be destroyed.”

 

 

See video: