Fifty-three-year-old Maureen Ikeorah, a widow and school teacher, has spoken out about the distressing experience of being publicly flogged by a Catholic priest in Anambra State. The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, stemmed from a dispute over unpaid allowances.
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Mrs. Ikeorah, who has taught for 14 years at a school owned by the Catholic Church, recounted the shocking event.
“The priest came out and asked me why I called a meeting, but I told him I did not call any meeting. He then started flogging me. We only disagreed with him because we (teachers) believed he took our lesson allowance,” she explained.
Despite allegations that she mobilized colleagues to protest the unpaid allowance, Ikeorah denied the claim. “No, I did not call any meetings,” she insisted.
Eyewitnesses, including fellow teachers, defended her, stating that she was not the instigator of any protest but rather the victim of an unjustified assault.
“The church is aware of the incident. They have formed a panel to investigate it and are waiting for the bishop’s decision,” Ikeorah said.
The widow, who lost her husband to diabetes in 2017, expressed sorrow over the incident and questioned whether the priest targeted her due to her vulnerable status.
“All I know is that he knows my husband is no more; he knows I am a widow. But if that was what gave him the belief that nobody would speak for me, I leave everything to God.”
If her husband were alive, she believes he would have demanded an explanation: “How could he be happy that somebody touched his wife?”
Since the incident, Ikeorah has neither received an apology from the priest nor the payment of the disputed allowance. She confirmed that the allowance, which was supposed to be paid in December, would have helped her family during the festive season.
“It affected me seriously. I would have bought chicken and rice for my children for Christmas and their school resumption,” she lamented.
The brutal flogging left her with head injuries, for which she has been seeking medical treatment. “I still feel pain in my head. I went for a lab test on Monday, and I was told to collect the result today,” she disclosed.
Despite the incident, Ikeorah affirmed that her faith in Christianity remains unshaken. “The Catholic priest is not Jesus Christ; his actions will not change my belief in the Christian faith. We don’t worship man; we worship God.”
However, she has decided to resign from her teaching position, citing irreparable humiliation. “The insult is too much, and I want to avoid any further insult.”
Asked whether she would forfeit the owed allowance, she said, “I am waiting for them. Whatever they say, I know what to do.”
Instead of continuing her teaching career, she is considering going into business to prevent further conflicts. “I want to avoid trouble generally,” she stated.
Her students, deeply affected by her decision, visited her at home in tears. “They came on Wednesday and asked what they should do because they were preparing for exams. I pity them; I see them as my children.”
Her own children, though angered, have chosen legal means to seek justice. “They said they would not touch anybody. They would follow the law, and a lawyer would handle the matter.”
Reflecting on her ordeal, Ikeorah called for greater support for widows. “I pray God provides for women, especially widows, so they can have enough funds to feed their children and avoid insults.”
She remains heartbroken over the experience. “Up till now, as we speak, I still feel sad about the way the priest flogged me.”
With the church’s investigation underway, all eyes are on the bishop’s final decision. Meanwhile, Ikeorah remains determined to seek justice, ensuring that no other widow or teacher endures similar humiliation.
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