Officials of Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, led by the commissioner, Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix, have responded to an outcry by a widow, Mrs Grace Emelogu, who alleged that her two children were snatched from her by her in-laws.
Emelogu had in viral video, cried out that her two children, Chizaram, 11, and Chidera, 9, were forcefully taken away by her in-laws of Amachara, Umuahia South LGA, after the death of her husband, Christian Emelogu.
But the Emelogu family, led by Enyinnaya Emelogu and other members, have denied the allegations, saying that it was the widow that abandoned her children in Umuahia and relocated to Abuja from where she sparingly visited them in Umuahia.
According to the members of the Emelogu family, who spoke at the palace of the traditional ruler of Amachara community, Eze Akpunku Iheuwa, during a meeting convened by the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the widow abandoned her children in Umuahia and moved to Abuja.
They claimed that she was afraid to live in the two rooms made available by the Emelogu family for her and the children.
“After the burial of her husband, Mr Christian Emelogu, the family, at a meeting, advised her to relocate closer home to Umuahia so that she and the children will be around other family members.
“She agreed and asked to be allowed to travel to her birthplace at Lekwesi in Umunneochi LGA in order to communicate her brothers of the directives of her husband’s family,” a representative of the Emelogu family said.
They wondered why the widow did not appreciate the good care given to her kids but turned back to tell the world that the family forcefully took over the children.
But Mr Titus Igwe, who is an elder brother of to the widow, said that his sister was frightened by the decision of the Emelogu family, requesting her to relocate to Umuahia.
He, however, apologized to his in-laws.
To resolve the matter, the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation struck a deal between the two parties which will see the custody of the children given to their mother in August 2024.
She will sign an undertaking to bring up the kids as responsible citizens.
Abia Govt intervenes, as family denies snatching children from widow