by Isi Esene

And when we thought the weekend couldn’t have been worse than it had been with the murder of over a hundred innocent people in Jos, Plateau State, there was another tragedy on Sunday at Umuakuru, Owerri North LGA of Imo State, where nine people died in a compound after the burial of Felicia Njoku, a 98 year old woman.

The son of the deceased, Paschal Njoku, died along with his wife, Juliana, and their five children, according to the Nigerian Tribune.

According to the report, another member of the family, Christiana Uba, and family friend, Catharine Ahunonu were also involved and there was nosurvivor among the people that passed the night in the compound, where the old woman was buried.

The only survivor of the family, Margret Ikeri, who did not stay overnight, said it was a calamity she had never seen in her life.

However, fingers are being pointed at a member of the family whom the source said had earlier threatened to deal with the late Njoku and his family over a lingering family problem. Not prepared to take chances over the threat, Njoku’s wife, Juliana reportedly compelled him to relocate, but her advice was ignored.

An elderly man from the village said the corpses would not be removed from the compound until certain rituals were performed to appease the gods of the land.

Their corpses were however discovered when artisans who erected the canopies for the burial came the next day to clear the canopies knocked without getting a response.

Wow.