In South-East Nigeria, gunmen are exploiting the cultural practice of burying the dead in ancestral homesteads by demanding money from grieving families. This extortion has become a lucrative industry for non-state actors, causing immense distress and financial burden on the bereaved.
For instance, ahead of the burial of Mazi Edwin Ohia in Imo State, gunmen attacked the funeral party, snatching a vehicle and demanding a ransom. Similarly, Jerome from Enugu State had to pay N200,000 to bury his father in Imo State. Kelechi from Imo State faced a N15 million ransom demand for his mother’s burial.
These incidents highlight the urgent need for political leaders to find sustainable solutions to curb this growing menace and ensure that the dead can rest in peace.
AT Reporter
