Man weds dead wife in Ebonyi State

A man, Onyema Orji was at the weekend in Nwakpu, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, forced to ‘officially’ marry his dead wife, Blessing so as to posses the children born for him by the deceased.

Orji had divorced Blessing on the ground that her mother was interfering in their marriage, forcing Blessing to marry another man, one Chukwuma.

The former marriage between Blessing and Orji produced children including twins; while the last union failed to produce any child. Blessing later died.

But there was drama during the burial when the first husband, Onyema Orji brought items for her burial and wanted to take the children born for him by the late Blessing, but was told by Blessing’s family that he could bury her but could not take possession of the children as he had not performed the traditional marriage rite that will empower him to claim the children.

This forced Onyema to perform the traditional marriage rite on Blessing who was lying motionless inside casket awaiting the burial.

He later performed the traditional marriage rite and wedded Blessing and subsequently left with his children. [New Telegraph]