Worried by the bogus marriage and burial rites imported into their culture in the recent past, the Idoma Area Traditional Council (IATC) in Benue State has abolished costly burial rites for deceased persons and the imposition of costly requirements on the bereaved family.
The council has also crashed the cost of bride price in Idoma land and imposed a unified and fixed rate of N50,000.
The paramount ruler of the Idoma kingdom, Och’Idoma, Dr John Elaigwu Odogbo, made the announcement in Otukpo, the headquarters of Idoma land while delivering his New Year message to the people.
The Och’Idoma, disclosed that the decision was reached after wide consultations with rulers, political leaders, and other stakeholders in the kingdom.
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He noted that after wide consultations, the council concluded that “Some self-imposed, barbaric, and harsh cultural practices be expunged from the practice of Idoma culture and tradition and would immediately take effect on all Idoma clans, tongues, and people under the Idoma area traditional council.
“The Imposition of costly prescriptions, stipulations, and requirements on the bereaved family for the burial rites of a deceased person is hereby prohibited, in Idoma land. Burial rites should be conducted within affordable means of the family and as much as possible, concluded within two to three weeks from the date of death.
“The Traditional bride price in Idoma land is hereby unified and fixed at N50,000 (Fifty thousand Naira, only). All forms of stringent conditions, stipulations, and expectations associated with traditional marriage are hereby removed and prohibited,” he ordered.
He said, “The practice whereby relatives deny and deprive the children and wive(s) of the deceased of their right to inheritance of the deceased’s property, is hereby prohibited.
