Idoma community bans slaughtering of Fulani cows, shaving of widow’s hair during burial

Following the high cost of burial rites in Otukpa District which has gone beyond the reach of many, resulting in delayed burials, sale of family property, amongst other challenges, the elders, chiefs and people of Otukpa on Monday, promulgated a Bye -Law to regulate burial rites in the district.

The law which imposes a fine ranging from one hundred to one and fifty thousand naira on offenders, depending on the gravity of the offence, and takes effect from of 1st July, 2020, among other things, prohibits the slaughtering of Fulani cows, stressing that when cow becomes necessary, it shall be a native one, even as it forbids expensive wak keep and demand of any kind from the bereaved, while abolishing pre-burial food presentation involving goats and cows.

In order to forestall unhealthy competition among in-laws during burials, the staging of big rallies, hiring of canopies and presentation of items in public by in-laws are abolished while payment by married daughters of the deceased shall not exceed ten thousand naira including any other thing, even as the law insists that the mourning period for female mourners shall not exceed 3 months.

On the shaving of widow’s hair and lighting of candles after mourning, the law says they will be optional if in conflict with the widow’s beliefs, stressing that if observed, there shall be no material demand from such widows, even as it also bound public display of caskets/ coffins and other burial items while removing all forms of levies from plastering of graves by the bereaved.

Furthermore, the keeping of vigil at burial, acrobatic display of motorcycle riders and long preservation of corpses in mortuaries are also forbidden while only dead persons within the ages 25 and above shall be given befitting burial ceremony within the confine of the bye -Law, even as it states that taking of dead wives to their paternal homes shall attract only five thousand naira with other little condiments.

Correspondent, James Wright, reports that, in appreciation, the Och‘Otukpa, HRH Sir Sunday Ekele JP thanked the chiefs, elders and members of the bye-law committee for their efforts in making it a reality, while the former Chairman of Alede Club, Chief Idoko Edoka, one-time Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government, Innocent Ogidi as well as Chief Mike Odo JP, congratulated the Otukpa community on the emergence of the burial laws and appreciated HRH Sir Sunday Ekele JP and others that made it a reality.

Credit ;
Joy FM Otukpo News

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