Governor Uzodimma Condemns, Vows to Stop “Corpse Water Cleansing” Widowhood Ritual
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has ignited a strong public reaction after vowing to crush the “evil and dehumanizing” widowhood ritual known as “corpse water cleansing.”
This chilling custom, reportedly still practiced in parts of the state, allegedly forces widows to drink or bathe with water used to wash their late husband’s corpse as a supposed measure of their innocence from what killed their husband.
Speaking through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Governor Uzodimma condemned the act as “a shameful assault on womanhood and humanity.” He immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into the practice and instructed that anyone found to be involved in enforcing the ritual be arrested.
The Governor issued a stern warning to traditional leaders and community heads, demanding that they actively stamp out such dehumanizing practices within their domains or face severe government sanctions.
He emphasized that “no culture can justify cruelty.”
Women’s rights advocates and civil society groups have lauded the governor’s decisive action, describing it as a long-overdue and firm stand against centuries of oppressive customs still haunting parts of southeastern Nigeria.
