A pregnant widow has reportedly been banished from a community in Benue State after being accused of stealing small food items from local shops to feed herself, her young son, and her unborn child.
The incident, which has sparked outrage among human rights advocates, took place in the Gwer East area of the state, where residents claimed the woman had been caught taking foodstuffs including bread, garri, and sachet milk from neighborhood shops.
Community sources told journalists that the widow, said to be in her late twenties, had lost her husband about a year ago and had been struggling to survive since his death. With no means of livelihood and no support from relatives, she allegedly resorted to taking food to keep her child and unborn baby alive.
However, rather than offering help, local leaders reportedly convened a community meeting and ordered her banishment, an action many have described as cruel and inhumane.
“She was crying and pleading, saying she was hungry and only took food because her child had not eaten for days,” one resident said. “But they refused to listen. They said the law must take its course and drove her out of the village.”
Eyewitnesses said the woman, heavily pregnant, was publicly humiliated before being forced to leave the community with her little boy, carrying a few belongings in a small bag.
Some residents condemned the decision, describing it as a “punishment without mercy.” Others justified the move, saying the community’s laws do not tolerate theft in any form.
Human rights campaigners have since called on the Benue State government and the National Human Rights Commission to intervene immediately.
“This woman needs protection and care, not persecution,” said a Makurdi-based women’s rights advocate, who described the incident as “a tragic reflection of how widows are still treated as outcasts in some parts of the country.”
As of press time, the woman’s whereabouts remain unknown. Locals claimed she was last seen heading toward a nearby settlement, holding her son’s hand.
Meanwhile, calls have grown on social media for the state authorities to investigate the matter and provide immediate assistance to the victim.
