It was a turbulent end to a very tumultuous relationship: the remains of Adaukwu Godspower were retrieved from a shallow grave after she was allegedly murdered by her live-in-lover. Precious Dikewoha reports
It was an unfortunate end to a fractious love affair in Okprowo Community of Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. A 32-year-old man was arrested for the murder of his girlfriend of many years.
The lives of those who knew and loved Adaukwu will never be the same, particularly her widow-mother, Mrs. Jakoja Godspower.
When our reporter visited Okprowo, an uneasy calm pervaded the community. Indigenes of the town were seen discussing the “murder”. What was in the open was that the suspect (Chinemezu Ewo), during a usual fracas, allegedly pulled out a kitchen knife and stabbed Adaukwu to death.
To cover the act, he allegedly threw the body of the woman he had lived with for years outside the fence of their apartment and dug a shallow grave, where he wanted to bury her remains.
The late Adaukwu was of Edeoha village. Chinemeze hails from Okprowo community where they lived together. Members of the deceased family told our reporter that the suspect took away their daughter without their consent.
When The Nation visited Okprowo community, residents said the death of the woman drew the curtain on years of quarrelling and brawling like sworn enemies.
In fact, one of the indigenes told of how a month before the “last fight”, the two lovers engaged in an open brawl, which ended in Chinemeze stabbing Adaukwu on the head with a sharp object.
“If she had taken a firm decision to leave him after that fight, she would still be alive today. But she would not listen to advice. She continued to stay with him, until death finally put them apart,” the source told our reporter on condition of not being named.
It was gathered that nemesis caught up with the abusive lover when a neighbour saw him dumping the remains of his lover over the fence before proceeding to dig a shallow grave.
“It was when he was trying to dig the grave in a swampy forest that he was apprehended by some good Samaritans who handed him over to the police,” the source added.
Our reporter’s visit to the deceased’s compound in Edeoha, showed why the deceased apparently stayed on, in spite of the abuses she suffered in the hands of her man. One relation said the family was so poor that they were almost grateful that Chinemezu took the deceased off their hands.
“He inherited Adaukwu without the consent of her family or paying a kobo on her head.”
The mother of the deceased, Mrs. Godpower, was under medication when our reporter visited her because her blood pressure shot up after she heard of the fate of her daughter.
Speaking with our reporter in her dialect, interpreted by one of her sons, the sobbing widow said: “Since he (Chinemezu) started befriending my daughter, it has been one quarrel or the other; each time they quarreled he would injure her.
“I pleaded with her to leave the man, but she refused. They were not legally married, the man had never visited us to say ‘I want to marry your daughter’ but the two of them were living together. I decided to overlook them; the man didn’t listen to me because he felt I was not in support of the relationship.”
“I was not aware of the last fight; I was in the house when I received a message that my daughter was dead. I then rushed to Okprowo community, where people took me to the bush where my daughter was buried.
“I was there when the police came and took away the body and till now I am not aware of what police is doing. I don’t have money and I don’t know people, but I want the police and government to teach Chinemezu and other abusive men a lesson.
“My body system has totally changed from the day I saw my daughter’s remains. The doctor said it is high blood pressure and other sicknesses he mentioned. I have not paid for the little medication he gave to me.”
Elder Francis Ojoro, a relative to the deceased, said the family was awaiting the body of Adaukwu to perform some traditional rites before her burial.
“When police release her remains before we bury her; we will perform a traditional ritual so that her spirit will continue to fight whoever killed her.”
Rivers State police spokesperson Mrs. Angela Agabe confirmed the incident.
She said: “I have contacted Ahoada Police Station and they told me investigation on the matter is going on. They want to know the real cause of her death.”