My Neighborhood Watch #146 - Reporting Events Around us

Shot from Samsung A05 - Traditional rulers paid a condolence Visit

I will always be appreciative to @xkool24 for neighborhood watch contest, creating the conscious and awareness in our environments. I am @freshgrace reporting outside Uyo. Right now, I am at Odiok Itam in Itu Government Area in Akwa Ibom to support my friend, the son of the bereaved.

I needed to be there and give assistance to him and the family physically and where necessary. At 10 am, I left Uyo and navigated toward the Ibom Plaza where I picked keke and to Urua Ekpa before going to the Odiok Itam community.

I arrived at Odiok Itam Community

Amazingly, on entering the area, everything was almost set, while the funeral was on the 18th of April, 2026. But according to their tradition, after the opening of the mourning house, the traditional rulers, council of chiefs, and heads of families were already in the compound for their condolences.

One full cow was for the traditional rulers but they killed it in that compound, giving the head of the cow to the bereaved family, and made their cash donation too to the sum of (Five hundred thousand naira (N500,000). It was a huge one there. Everywhere was busy, those cooking, painting, arrangements, and more visitors coming with gifts to support the bereaved family.

Cow killed for the Traditional rulers

To show that it is a burial of a great icon, there were 3 cows and many goats still coming in from well-wishers and that of the family. Canopies mounted, pounded yam, and white soup (Afia efere) prepared, drinks available in different brands and types.

While we were still putting things in place, rain failed, and we suspended what we were doing outside and concentrated on the internal setting of the house as it will look like on the main day.

Everything was set for the burial

Sympathizers were flogging in good numbers, booking their notes on the condolence register while others sat comfortably for the drink sprees. It was the usual way for certain individuals to drink from morning till night and get drunk.

Although the burial is on Saturday, 18 April 2026, the house is already filled with people, from within and without the local government, Akwa Ibom.

I had a good time with them, assisting it should, and everything went smoothly before I went back to Uyo.

I invite @etette @dedejur @mayjay to participate in this contest.