By PETER OKOLIE

Imo Council of Traditional Rulers, on Thursday, presented a cheque of one million Naira each to 11 widows of the slain traditional rulers in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries included: three widows of the traditional rulers killed by gunmen at the headquarters of Njaba Local Government Area in October 2021.

NAN further recalls that the deceased were among the traditional rulers, security agents and politicians who were attacked during a meeting.

Presenting the cheques in Owerri, Chairman of the council, Eze Emmanuel Okeke, said that the gesture was part of the traditional rites approved by the council to assist widows of the late royal fathers.

“We know that it is God who gives and takes life; but we are just trying as much as possible to give them sense of belonging because they are still part of us.

“We are aware of their late husbands’ immense contributions to the peace and progress of their various communities and, therefore. should not be left to suffer their absence,” Okeke said.

He said that the chairmen or deputy chairmen of the council in each of the local government areas also owed it a duty to visit the widows once in a while to empower them with cash and food items.

The chairman also warned perpetrators of violence against widows to desist from such or face the wrath of the law.

On the forthcoming elections in the country, the traditional ruler, who advised Nigerians to elect credible candidates, prayed for peaceful electioneering process.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Chairman of the traditional council in Njaba Local Government Area, Eze Anthony Onyeka, commended Okeke for the gesture.

Onyeka, who betrayed emotion, described his escape from the attack as ‘miraculous’. (NAN)

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