It was gathered that the deceased Mrs. Nkechi Onwurah, trader at Afor Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State allegedly died after successful childbirth about a month ago.
Sources said the husband of the late trader, Mr. Onwurah who was away on business had queried his in-laws on why they kept the matter secret only to tell him the sad story days after the incident.
It was gathered that one of the relations of the deceased, identified as Onugbu allegedly slapped Mr. Onwurah at the hospital for daring ask the question, calling the bereaved pauper who could not take care of his family.
The insult was said to have reached Ogbunka and the ears of the bereaved’s family and made them to prepare for any untoward incident that might occur during the burial of their late wife, Friday afternoon .
Sources said the in-laws from Nnobi allegedly went to Ogbunka with a large number of mourners which included, Nnobi market traders, youths among others who boasted in the presence of the sad bereaved Onwurahs that they came to give their daughter befitting burial.
It was learned that trouble erupted when some unidentified persons went to children of the deceased to urge them to go into a waiting vehicle to take them back to Nnobi.
Some persons were said to have raised the alarm and prevented the children from going away with the invaders among who included women, a thing that led to a free for all, making many sustain injuries in the process, accorfing to sources.
However, unsettled by the stronger force at Ogbunka and their inability to go home with the children of, the in-laws were said to have stormed the Afo Nnobi Market Saturday morning and removed the deceased’s articles from her shops amidst tight security, boasting that the properties belonged to them, even as their daughter was properly married.
The deceased was said to be a rich business woman who owned about four shops in the market.
At Afo Market, Saturday morning, some traders were seen standing hand folded watching with sullen faces as the properties were being loaded into a waiting van. Armed Local vigilante operatives in dark dresses were seen scattered about the place.
Some traders who spoke with our correspondent describe the removal of the properties as illegal and urged husband of the late Nkechi to report the matter to the police for possible court action.
“This is illegal. It is intimidation. NMATA Chairman Maduabuchukwu Ezeoke was even molested when he attempted to mediate. The husband of the deceased should report the matter to the police”, the source who gave her name simply as Mrs Nwadiche, said bitterly.
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