The children of a woman, Mrs. Obioma Maria Ezike Azodo, an indigene of Nawgu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State have expressed grief over the disappearance of their mother.
According to them, Mrs. Azodo was banished from her husband’s community, Ifitedunu, in the same Dunukofia council area, in 2005 after she was alleged of stealing N5, 000 said to have belonged to their sister-in-law.
Twenty years after her alleged banishment, the children lamented that they could no longer establish contact with Mrs. Azodo and appealed to Nigerians to assist them in searching for her.
Posting an old and nuclear picture of her on social media with an appeal message to Nigerians for intervention, one of the victim’s children, who identified herself as Princess Nkem Azodo, disclosed that she was six years old when her mother was sent packing from her husband’s house.
According to her, the event leading to her mother’s unjust banishment still haunts their family nearly 20 years later.
She described the claim that Mrs. Azodo stole N5,000 as complete falsehood, recounting that Mrs. Azodo had just returned from the farm and visited Nkwo market to sell firewood when her sister-in-law arrived at their home with the local vigilante group.
Without investigation, trial, or a chance to speak, Nkem claimed that her mother was declared guilty and thrown out of her matrimonial home.
Despite the banishment, Nkem disclosed that Mrs. Azodo continued to sneak back to check on her children, often in secret. These quiet visits lasted until about 2011. After that, she vanished completely and has not been seen ever since.
One of the victim’s daughters, who left the village in 2008, said, “Life is strange and painfully private. Many don’t know that back in 2005, my mother was falsely accused of stealing N5,000 by my aunt. No one believed her innocence. She was banished from our village — her own home — without any chance to defend herself.
“I remember clearly that day, she had just returned from the farm with firewood. She went to Nkwo market to sell them. When she came back, my aunt showed up at our house with the vigilante group. Everything changed from that moment.
“Even after the banishment, she kept visiting us quietly, still checking in on her children. She came often until I finally left the village in 2008. She continued seeing my younger siblings until around 2011. During those years, she kept asking about me, but we couldn’t speak. There was no communication. No phone. No way to connect.
“As I grew older and came of age, I began to search for her but I still haven’t found her. Her own family doesn’t seem to know her whereabouts either. I don’t know if she’s still alive. I don’t know where to look anymore. And the pain of not knowing ever goes away.
“She has been missing, and we are very worried. If you have seen her or have any information about her whereabouts, please contact me immediately.”
Admitting that it could be difficult for people to easily recognize her missing mother in an old picture she made available, Nkem stated, “Please, the main reason for my post is to ask if anyone can recognise her through this picture. My hope is that someone might help us locate her, not just leave pity comments. I sincerely pray she is still alive and can one day explain what really happened to her.
“As of 2005, I was only six years old.
She is originally from Nawgu and was married in Ifitedunu. She was sent away from Ifitedunu, not from Nawgu.
“This is the only picture I have of her. Please, if you recognise her or have any information, help us. The dark lady is my biological mother. Her name is Obioma Maria Ezike, she is from Nawgu, the daughter of Okoye Dammama.”
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