Women remember when they brought peace to Abriba community

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Abiriba women in the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State have been commended for engineering the prevailing peace in Abiriba kingdom.

The paramount ruler of the kingdom and the Enachioken IV of Abiriba, Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu commended the women Monday earlier in the week on the occasion of 2025 Abiriba Women’s Day celebration.

This was even as the wife, Ugoeze Dela Kalu Kalu Ogbu raised the alarm on the rising level of HIV/AIDS in the kingdom.

The kingdom of Abiriba, in remembrance of the day the women brought peace to the entire kingdom which the men could not do, was shut down and economic activities brought to a standstill.

While all business ventures in the kingdom were closed, roads blocked, the women moved round the kingdom to recall what they fought in 1992 to return peace to Abiriba.

Recall the historic Abiriba Women’s Protest of November 25, 1992, when the women marched from Abiriba to Umuahia to demand government intervention during a communal crisis.

Their peaceful, but determined action led to a swift government response, which helped restore peace and led to the annual celebration of Abiriba Women’s Day on November 25th each year to commemorate the event.

Legend has it that there the kingdom was engulfed in killings, kidnappings, while fear reigned. Having defied all moves to make peace, the women decided to “trek to Abuja” to register their predicament.

It was said some women gave birth on the way, some died of fatigue, while the aged were carried in vehicles, all without the knowledge of their husbands. They ended up in Government House, Umuahia where they laid their complaints to the government. This gesture let to the intervention of the state government and peace returned to Abiriba.

The Enachioken IV of Abiriba, Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu and Enachioken – In – Council were said to have sent emissaries to the women to come back home to the Enachioken palace where the Enachioken addressed them and thanked them for having brought peace to the kingdom.

In appreciation of this role, the current Enachioken of Abiriba formally approved 25th November of every year as Abiriba Women’s Day.

In her address to the women on the anniversary, the wife of the Enachioken, Ugoeze Dela Kalu Kalu Ogbu,said,  noted, “Let us use this opportunity to celebrate ourselves, to foster peace among all women of Abiriba, and to renew our commitment to the development and preservation of our rich culture and heritage.”

On the rising level of HIV/ AIDS in Abiriba community, she said, “This is a serious issue that affects the health and future of our people. We must educate our children on the importance of making safe choices and protecting themselves. For the adults, let us be vigilant and informed, about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and the need for responsible behaviour.”

Two days earlier, aged women were honoured with “Ada Ena Abiriba” titles and on the second day, the younger women who, in one way or the other, had impacted on the development of the kingdom, were honoured with the title, “Inyom Abiriba”

On the last and main day, the women, in replication of what happened in 1992, left their homes early in the morning and matched through the community to the Enachioken palace, singing songs.

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