A woman identified as Mrs. Chika Ndubuisi from Awo-Omamma in Imo State's Oru East Local Government Area has been saved from a troubling ordeal. Her husband's relatives allegedly forced her to drink water used to bathe his corpse in an attempt to prove her innocence regarding his death. The incident caught the attention of the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare after a women’s advocacy group raised the alarm.

Imo State's Commissioner for Women Affairs, Lady Nkechinyere Ugwu, condemned the practice, calling it "an inhuman widowhood custom that belongs to the past." She expressed her shock that such acts still occur in the modern era and described the relatives' actions as “barbaric, cruel, and completely unacceptable in a civilized society.”

The governor's wife, Chioma Uzodinma, also responded swiftly, calling for a thorough investigation and promising that those responsible would face justice.

According to reports, Mrs. Ndubuisi was detained along with her husband’s body by relatives who accused her of causing his death, and they pressured her to drink the bathing water to prove her innocence.

Thanks to prompt intervention by government officials, local authorities, and security agencies, the situation was contained. The ministry, working with the local council and NGOs, rescued Mrs. Ndubuisi and her children, restoring calm in the community. She is now under government protection, and investigations are ongoing, with several arrests reportedly made.

This incident highlights the ongoing prevalence of outdated widowhood practices and the importance of continuous advocacy for women's rights and humane treatment.