The rising cost of burial of dead relatives has stimulated uproar in Eziowelle community in Idemili North Local Area of Anambra State. Indigenes Eziowelle went on rampage to condemn the high cost of funeral ceremony in the community.
The Eziowelle indigenes protested that the high cost of burial in the community is compelling them to abandon the remains of their relatives in the morgues.
National Daily gathered that some indigenes of Eziowelle who took their protest to the State capital, Awka, bemoaned that bereaved families were compelled to pay the sum of N1 million to leaders of the community’s town union before commencing burial rites. Many families were not enable to raise such money that does not even constitute part of the funeral expenses
Chief Felix Okafor and Emeka Akukwe, identified to be speaking for of the community, narrated that the leadership of the town, three years ago, introduced what was known as burial levy of N1 million on every bereaved family in the area before they could commence the funeral arrangements of their loved ones.
“As a result of this, many families have abandoned their loved ones in morgues for months because they are finding the costs too high.
“So, they have to leave them in the mortuary until they can work out how to pay the levy. If you fail to do so, the town union leadership would mobilize thugs to attack you. This is the type of yoke we are passing through in Eziowelle community,’’ he narrated.
“It is because of some of these anomalies that I am presented myself as a candidate in the just concluded town union election in the area,” Akukwe had declared/
He appealed for the urgent intervention Governor Willie Obiano, to save the people from the bondage and potential crisis.