A woman, Mrs. Vero Otoro has ignited the wrath of some human right activists and traditional rulers in her indigenous town, Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State for allegedly confiscating the property of her missing son, Belief Ubara.
Mrs. Otoro was also accused of sending her son’s wife, Happiness Ubara packing from her husband’s house and also dispossessing her of Ubara’s lands.
THE POINT gathered that Ubara had been reportedly kidnapped on January 19, 2024 and over a year after his disappearance, he has not been found.
Sadly, while his wife is still groaning in pain over his abduction, Happiness mother-in-law (Mrs. Otoro) has added salt to her Injury by ejecting her out of her matrimonial home.
Mrs. Otoro did not also spare her two grandchildren who were also chased out of the house their father built in Ozoro and have become homeless alongside Happiness.
Happiness’ double jeopardy got the attention of some human rights bodies including Behind Bars Initiative in Delta State and a petition was raised against her mother-in-law before the traditional Chiefs of Ozoro.
The Director of BBI, Harrison Gwamnishu, explained that Mrs. Otoro failed to show up when the council of Chiefs of the community summoned her.
Gwamnishu disclosed that Happiness and her two children have been homeless and in distress since they were ejected from their house, adding that they had been putting up with a family friend.
He said despite the local court’s order that Mrs. Otoro should allow her son’s wife and children to occupy their home and take possession of their lands, the mother-in-law has insisted on dispossessing her missing son’s family of their property.
According to the rights activist, “Mrs. Happiness Belief Ubara’s husband was kidnapped from Asaba on January 19, 2024, and despite the payment of ransom, his whereabouts remain unknown till date.
“Throughout this ordeal, Mrs. Ubara (Happiness) was pregnant and caring for their children. Unfortunately, her mother-in-law’s behaviour became increasingly hostile, making life unbearable for Mrs. Ubara and her children. The mother-in-law seized control of her husband’s property, including the residence where Mrs. Ubara and her children lived.”
He added, “A report was filed at the OVIE Palace (King Palace) in Ozoro, and the mother-in-law was summoned on several occasions but failed to appear before the traditional ruler and council of chiefs.
“Notably, Mrs. Ubara’s father-in-law supported her throughout this challenging period, but he is currently ill.”
“On February 18, 2025, the traditional court delivered a judgment, ordering the mother-in-law to vacate the property and return it to Mrs. Ubara and her children. However, the mother-in-law has refused to comply with the court’s decision, leaving Mrs. Ubara and her children are homeless and forced to seek shelter with a relative, where they are currently struggling to survive. This fight for justice has now become a collective concern to us all.”
A copy of the traditional court’s judgment on the matter which was signed by the chairman, one Rev Emmanuel, Vice Chairman and Secretary, revealed that Mrs. Otoro was strongly advised to relinquish her son’s house and lands to her daughter-in-law within a month.
The judgement of the jurists read party, “After the jurists of Ovie traditional Court One Ozoro had carefully examined the plaintiff and his witness statements, inspection and investigation of the lands and house in dispute, the jurists came into conclusion as follows:
“That the litigants were in love in which they begat a son called Belief; That this Belief grew up to a man, got married a wife and begat two children, a male and a female; That this Belief had been missing for over a year; That this Belief had property such as a house and lands.
“Therefore, the court rules that the house and the lands belong to Belief Ubara’s wife and children and not Belief’s parents.
“The defendant Mrs. Vero Otoro is seriously advised to vacate the house and relinquish her hand from the lands within one month from the date of this verdict to allow peace to reign. This judgment is passed on the 18th day of February 2025.”
Meanwhile, Gwamnishu said that a month has passed but Mrs. Otoro has failed to comply, leaving her son’s wife and children in severe trauma and hardship.
Efforts to contact Mrs. Otoro were not fruitful as at the time of filing this report.