BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
Two widows and their children have been rendered homeless in Ezi Agbi, Ukpa community of Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by their brother-in-laws over ownership tussle of a family house.
A visit to the scene of the incident at Ezi Agbi, Ukpa community revealed that part of the family house including the fence and the properties inside were all destroyed and exposed to rain.
In an interview with one of the widows, Margret Agbi, she said the demolished house was her late husband’s share of their father’s inheritance and wondered why their brother-in-laws would demolish their only place of abode.
She lamented the act saying it was the height of wickedness orchestrated by her brother-in-law. According to her, the suspects had informed her that they wanted to renovate the house but ended up demolishing it and didn’t provide an alternative house for her and her children.
Margaret said they find it difficult to see a place to lay their heads considering the rainy season and called on the government to come to their aid.
Addressing our correspondent, she said, “You have seen how the world is. We don’t have anybody to come to our rescue or to speak for us. I have never seen this kind of thing in my life. I never knew that the children of my husband’s brother could demolish our house for no just cause.
“They destroyed the building including the properties inside the house. Our entire cushion, chairs, bed, fan, television, lamp, kitchen utensils, my wrappers and other things were all destroyed. I want the government to come to our rescue. You can see how we are struggling to earn a living. We are only surviving by God’s grace,” Margret lamented.
In the same vein, her co-wife, Ogeri Agbi cried out that their husband died long ago and they have been struggling to earn a living through petty trading until her brother in-laws served them a quit notice.
“Our husband died some years ago. It is my brother-in-law that came and destroyed the only house where we are living. They gave us a notice to pack out. We have been living peacefully in this compound until when they came and told us that they wanted to rebuild their own side of the building and later encroached on our own side and destroyed it too.
“My husband, Egwu Agbi owns this building. My late husband and his brother inherited this building from their mother and it was divided for both of them to live. The issues we had with them in the past were settled by the Ukpa community where they divided the property and the compound into two; one side was given to my husband while his elder brother had one side. We have no qualms recently that could warrant this type of wickedness,” she said.
On his part, one of the widow’s children, Anelechi Agbi while reacting on the matter, stated that the building is a family compound which his father, Egwu Elechi and Okwa Agbi inherited from their grandmother and have lived there for years but unfortunately, their cousin, Azubuike Agbi came and claimed ownership of the compound and served them notice to pack out saying that the compound belongs to them.
He, therefore, called on the government and non-governmental organizations to come to their rescue and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.
When contacted for reaction over the allegation, Heart Okwa said he would not react.
Also when contacted, the town Union President, Oko Nnachi said he was not aware of any problem in the family and promised to see how to settle the issues.
