By CHARLES IWUOHA

A middle-aged man, Mr Chima Edeh, yesterday, Thursday, May 14, 2020, allegedly tempted to kill an 80-year-old widow, Mrs Regina Opoke, in Eguho-Ezzagu in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The childless widow was said to have escaped at night when Edeh invaded her house but he went ahead to set the house ablaze when he noticed that the woman had managed to escape.

Confirming the incident, the Catholic Priest of St Joseph Catholic Church, Eguho Ezzagu, Rev. Father Arinzechukwu Nkannebe, who rescued the woman, noted that the living condition of the woman was unbearable and therefore called on spirited individuals and government to assist the widow.

He said that all the properties of the woman including clothes were burnt to ashes.

The Cleric said: “It was indeed terrible yesterday night with this ugly incident. One Mr. Chima Edeh from Onunweke Ubia, set ablaze the house of a poor, wretched and childless old woman, Mrs Regina Opoke.

“This is high rate of heartless, wickedness and man’s inhumanity to fellow human being. A childless old woman, now homeless and naked now except the clothes she is wearing right now. This is terrible. Devilish. Thanks to God no life was lost. The guy has been apprehended by the youths.”

“Let’s consider ourselves to be children of this childless old woman of about 80 years old. Always in the church cleaning and sweeping the Church’s/Father’s compound. Taking charge of little children organisation I formed to nurture our little ones in faith and good moral (Sons and Daughters of St Joseph) every Saturday morning.

“A Ghana-must-go bag full of clothes I gave her sometime in January and a bag of rice I gave her last month and all her property burnt to ashes . . . I’m full of tears,” the Rev. Father lamented.

Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area, Hon. Sunday Eze, when alerted on the ugly incident, ordered that the culprit should be arrested and prosecuted. The culprit has since been taken to Ishielu Police Division.

Hon. Eze has assured that the council would visit the old widow and know how she can be assisted.