Residents clash over burial rites in Anambra

[Mirror]

The Umudioka community in Awka, Anambra State has been engulfed by crisis as two contending groups, Catholic faithful and traditionalists, including other Christian denominations, fight over the implementation of burial rite for a deceased indigene.

The crisis which escalated at the burial of one Nwana Nnebuife, last week has been on for many years, leading to litigations and severance of friendships among those who wanted to enforce the burial rites and indigenes opposed to it.

It was gathered that the current crisis began when the officiating parish priest, sent from St. Patrick's Catholic Church insisted that the wife of late Nnebuife observe the 'dust to dust' rites by pouring sand into the grave, a move rejected by some elders, who said it was against their burial custom, that reserves such right to children of the deceased. It was also gathered that as none of the feuding parties was ready to concede on the issue, a fracas ensued leading to aborting of the burial ceremony.

Sources who spoke on the issue, disclosed that when the ceremony was aborted, the corpse was returned to the mortuary, even as children of the deceased had since reported the matter to the Central Police Station in Awka,as the police are said to have arrested those connected with the incident.

A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity accused the Church of denigrating Awka custom and imposing unknown practices on the people, especially,as they relate to burial rites. He vowed that they will never allow the Church to intimidate the people into accepting an alien culture.

It will be recalled that the same issue arose when one late Egwuonwu, a member of a Pentecostal church died and whose burial was nearly marred when a faction in the community insisted the 'dust-to- dust' rite would not be observed, especially when it was realised that the deceased was once a member of the Catholic church. Meanwhile,it was learnt that a group, composed of eminent indigenes have intervened to broker peace on the matter.

National Mirror

[Folami David]

It's not gotten to that extent at all I must confess. I feel things like this can be resolved amicable without any rift.