Indigenes of Eziowelle community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state have raised alarm over the high cost of burial in the area.
They accused the leadership of the town of imposing a burial levy of N1million on every bereaved family as a prerequisite for the commencement of funeral arrangements of their loved ones.
Addressing newsmen in Awka, on Tuesday, some stakeholders in the community led by Chief Felix Okafor and Emeka Akukwe, said bodies of their loved ones spent months in morgues due to the inability of the family members to raise the compulsory levy.
“As soon as the leadership of the town came on board about three years ago, they imposed a burial levy of N1million on every bereaved family in the community before they can commence funeral arrangements of their loved ones.
“This ugly development has forced many to abandon their loved ones in mortuaries for months until they can raise money to pay for the levy,” their bemoaned.
The stakeholders who also accused the leadership of demanding a compulsory levy of N1million to the town union before the commencement of any building in the community said failure to comply to the directive attracted attacks by thugs.
Describing as bondage the ugly situation members of the community have found themselves.
Mr Akukwe said, “It was these anomalies that informed my decision to offer myself as a candidate in the June 30 town union election in the area to liberate my people from the yoke”.
He, however, noted that the election was rigged by what he called “anti-democratic forces” in the community who he allegedly manipulated the electoral processes in their favour.
Mr Akukwe called for the immediate intervention of the state governor, Willie Obiano, in order to liberate the people of the area and offer them desirable leadership to avert any imminent crises.
Efforts to get the reaction of the President General of the community, Mr Titus Akpudo was unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was switched off, while a text message sent to him was not replied as at the time of filling this report.
