Outcry in Kaduna as Woman Buried with 8-Month Pregnancy, Community Condemns Act as 'Abomination'

Tensions are still high in the Maraban Rido community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following the controversial burial of a married woman who was reportedly laid to rest with an eight-month-old pregnancy, a decision that has triggered widespread condemnation and cultural backlash.

The woman, whose name has not been officially released, was said to have died last week at St. Gerard Catholic Hospital, Kaduna, after suffering complications. However, what followed has sparked a fierce public debate: rather than surgically removing the fetus before burial, an act seen as customary and respectful in many cultures, the deceased was reportedly buried with the unborn child still in her womb.

According to local accounts, her husband allegedly rejected medical advice to perform a post-mortem procedure to extract the baby, both before and after her death. This decision has provoked outrage and raised suspicions, especially among women in the local community.

In a heated group discussion, one community member, Victoria Adanma, expressed her grief and frustration over the incident. “Even a four-month pregnancy should be removed before burial, talk less of eight months,” she said. “This is not only against culture but against nature.”

Sources revealed that due to the size of the unborn child, the woman’s body had to be forcefully fitted into the coffin, further intensifying public anger and reinforcing the perception that her final rites were handled without due respect.

Many have described the situation as an "abomination" and a break from cultural norms that demand the separation of mother and unborn child in death, both for spiritual and traditional reasons.

“It is a deprivation of the child’s right to be buried separately, to be acknowledged, even in death,” said another woman, who chose to remain anonymous. “Even if some people think it doesn’t matter, to us, it’s a spiritual and moral failure.”

Efforts to reach the bereaved family for comment were unsuccessful, as community members remained tight-lipped about their identities. However, the condemnation from residents, particularly women, continues to spread across neighboring communities.

As the controversy deepens, local religious and traditional leaders are being urged to intervene and offer clarity on appropriate cultural rites, especially in cases involving maternal and fetal deaths.