Imo Gov. Hope Uzodinma Reacts After Widow Was Locked Up in Ambulance Transporting Husband’s Body and Ordered to Drink Water Used to Wash His Corpse
In a case that has ignited both outrage and sorrow across Nigeria, the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has condemned in the strongest terms the inhumane treatment of a widow, Mrs. Chika Ndubuisi, who was allegedly forced by her late husband’s relatives to partake in an ancient and demeaning ritual during his burial ceremony.
The deeply disturbing incident occurred in Isieke, Awo-Omamma, in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, where eyewitnesses reported that the widow was slapped, locked inside an ambulance carrying her husband’s corpse, and nearly forced to drink the water used to bathe the deceased.
Videos from the scene, which circulated widely on social media, showed the widow wailing and pleading for mercy as bystanders recorded the ordeal. Her cries sparked immediate outrage online, with thousands of Nigerians calling for the arrest of the perpetrators and the complete abolition of such barbaric widowhood rites that have persisted in certain communities under the guise of cultural practice.
Governor Uzodinma’s swift reaction came through an official statement released via the Imo State New Media Office, where he described the act as “barbaric, cruel, and completely unacceptable in a civilized society.”
“The Imo State Government has strongly condemned the attempted reintroduction of an inhuman widowhood practice in Awo-Omamma, Oru East LGA, where a widow was reportedly coerced to partake in a barbaric ritual involving the drinking of water used to bathe her late husband’s corpse,” the statement read.
The Governor’s message was conveyed by Chief (Mrs.) Nkechi Ugwu, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Vulnerable Groups, who personally led a rescue team to the scene following reports from local advocacy organizations. According to Ugwu, the swift intervention of her ministry, alongside the Chairman of Oru East LGA and security agencies, prevented what could have been a tragic escalation.
“We received urgent calls from women advocacy groups about a widow being brutalized during her husband’s burial. I immediately mobilized our team, and with the help of the local government chairman and security operatives, we rescued Mrs. Ndubuisi and her children,” Ugwu said.
“The perpetrators have been arrested, and the victim is now under the protection of the state government. The governor has instructed that no stone be left unturned in bringing those responsible to justice.”
According to preliminary findings, the late Mr. Odinakachi Ndubuisi died after a brief illness, prompting relatives to accuse his wife, Chika, of having a hand in his death — a common but baseless accusation often leveled against women in similar circumstances across rural parts of Nigeria.
At the burial preparation, sources said that the husband’s family insisted that Chika perform a traditional “proof of innocence” ritual that required her to drink the water used to bathe her husband’s corpse. When she refused, they allegedly beat her and locked her inside the ambulance that was conveying his remains to the mortuary.
Some family members reportedly argued that her refusal to drink the water confirmed her guilt, an assertion that led to heightened chaos at the scene. It took the intervention of local women and human rights volunteers to alert the authorities before the situation spiraled further.
One witness told journalists that “it was like watching a horror movie,” recounting how elderly women supported the ritual, claiming it was the “way of the ancestors.”
“They said that if she did not drink the corpse water, her husband’s spirit would not rest. It was shocking that even young men and women were part of it. I couldn’t believe this was still happening in 2025,” the witness said.
Upon learning of the situation, Commissioner Ugwu, accompanied by members of the Ministry of Women Affairs, arrived at the village with police officers and members of the Oru East Local Government Council. They met the widow in a traumatized state, having been humiliated in public view.
She and her children were immediately taken into protective custody. Governor Uzodinma’s administration has since placed them under government protection and provided temporary shelter at a safe location in Owerri.
A full investigation is now underway, with police confirming that several suspects have been detained for questioning.
Governor Uzodinma reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance for harmful cultural practices, especially those that degrade women or violate human rights.
“We are in the 21st century, and no woman should ever be subjected to dehumanizing treatment in the name of tradition. Widowhood is not a crime. Losing a husband should not translate to losing one’s dignity or human rights,” the governor said.
“My government will ensure that those responsible for this reprehensible act are prosecuted. We will also intensify public enlightenment to end these retrogressive customs that continue to shame our humanity.”
He further directed the Imo State Ministry of Justice to collaborate with the Ministry of Women Affairs to establish clear legal frameworks that criminalize any form of coercion or physical harm inflicted on widows during burial rites.
Several advocacy organizations have praised the Imo State Government for acting promptly. The Virgin Heart Foundation, Onurube Coalition, and Harsco Global Media, which first raised the alarm, described the rescue as “a victory for womanhood and humanity.”
“We commend Governor Hope Uzodinma and the Ministry of Women Affairs for saving this woman’s life. What happened in Awo-Omamma is a stark reminder that widowhood practices remain a deadly threat to women in some communities,” said Adaeze Eze, spokesperson for Virgin Heart Foundation.
She added that the group is offering counseling services and financial support to Mrs. Ndubuisi and her children while calling for wider social reforms.
Despite decades of advocacy, harmful widowhood traditions persist in some parts of Nigeria, particularly in rural communities. In many Igbo societies, widows are still subjected to degrading rituals such as shaving of hair, confinement, forced nudity, or being made to drink water used to bathe the corpse of their husbands.
The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act), which criminalizes such acts, has not yet been domesticated in all states, creating legal loopholes that embolden perpetrators.
Imo State domesticated the VAPP law in 2021, but human rights groups argue that enforcement remains weak at the community level.
“Most of these abuses are done under traditional authority structures that don’t recognize civil law. Women are often too afraid to report such acts because they fear social ostracism or further violence,” noted Barrister Amaka Emejuru, a gender rights lawyer in Owerri.
Emejuru urged the state to use the Awo-Omamma case as a test case for decisive legal punishment.
The viral video has triggered widespread reactions online, with Nigerians across different walks of life expressing disgust at the inhumanity displayed.
On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtags #JusticeForChikaNdubuisi, #EndWidowAbuse, and #NeverAgainInImo have been trending, as activists, lawyers, and public figures demand immediate prosecution of the perpetrators.
A prominent women’s rights advocate, Dr. Ngozi Ugochukwu, described the video as “a national disgrace that highlights the urgent need for social re-education.”
“This is not culture; this is cruelty. Culture evolves, but barbarity should never be preserved in the name of tradition,” she wrote.
Following the governor’s directive, community leaders in Awo-Omamma convened an emergency meeting to dissociate themselves from the incident. The President-General of Isieke Town Union, Chief Obinna Nnadi, publicly condemned the act and vowed to support the government’s investigation.
“We cannot allow the actions of a few misguided individuals to tarnish the image of our community. The culprits acted on their own and will face the law,” Nnadi said.
Although visibly traumatized, Mrs. Ndubuisi briefly spoke to reporters at the Ministry of Women Affairs office in Owerri. She recounted her ordeal amid tears.
“I did nothing wrong. I loved my husband. I still can’t believe his people would treat me like that. They said I must drink the water used to wash his body, or they would bury me with him. I thought I would die that day,” she said.
“I thank God and the people who came to save me. If not for them, I would not be alive today.”
She also expressed gratitude to the governor, women’s groups, and security agencies for their intervention.
Governor Uzodinma has directed the Imo State Ministry of Information to begin a public sensitization campaign against harmful widowhood rites across all 27 local government areas. The campaign will target traditional rulers, community heads, and local women leaders to enforce strict compliance with modern human rights laws.
“This case will not end with condemnation. We must act decisively so that no widow in Imo State ever faces this kind of humiliation again,” the governor said.
The Awo-Omamma widow abuse case serves as a chilling reminder that even in 2025, parts of Nigeria still wrestle with archaic practices that strip women of their dignity. But it also marks a turning point — one where government, civil society, and ordinary citizens unite to say enough is enough.
Governor Uzodinma’s prompt intervention not only saved a life but also reignited national discourse on the rights and protection of widows — an issue long buried under cultural silence.
If justice is fully served in this case, it could become a precedent that dismantles the remaining vestiges of widowhood cruelty, ensuring that no woman in Imo, or anywhere in Nigeria, will ever again be forced to prove her innocence through barbarity.
GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA CONDEMNS ATTEMPTED WIDOWHOOD ‘CORPSE WATER’ RITUAL IN AWO-OMAMMA, ORDERS FULL INVESTIGATION
The Imo State Government has strongly condemned the attempted reintroduction of an inhuman widowhood practice in Awo-Omamma, Oru East Local Government Area, where a widow was reportedly coerced to partake in a barbaric ritual involving the drinking of water used to bathe her late husband’s corpse.
His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, described the incident as “barbaric, cruel, and completely unacceptable in a civilized society.” The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Vulnerable Groups, Chief (Mrs.) Nkechi Ugwu, ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the matter and assured that those responsible will face the full weight of the law.
Preliminary reports indicate that Mrs. Chika Ndubuisi, widow of the late Mr. Odinakachi Ndubuisi, was accused by her in-laws of being responsible for her husband’s death and was unlawfully detained in an ambulance with the corpse. The family allegedly attempted to compel her to drink the “corpse water” to prove her innocence.
However, swift intervention by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, in collaboration with the Chairman of Oru East Local Government Area and security agencies, successfully halted the act. The intervention followed a timely alert from several women’s advocacy groups, including the Onurube Coalition, Virgin Heart Foundation, and Harsco Global Media.
Chief Ugwu confirmed that the Ministry’s prompt action rescued the widow and her children and led to the arrest of those involved.
She added that normalcy has since been restored in the community, while the Ministry of Women Affairs has commenced a detailed investigation to ensure that all culprits are identified and brought to justice.
Governor Uzodimma reaffirmed his administration’s zero tolerance for dehumanising widowhood practices, emphasizing that such acts are contrary to the laws and moral values of Imo State.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Ndubuisi and her children have been placed under government protection to ensure their safety and well-being.
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