Tension has gripped Ugbema community in Benue State following the banishment of a heavily pregnant widow accused of shoplifting by local elders.
Eyewitnesses said the widow, who recently lost her husband, was accused of stealing small household items from local shops to feed herself, her son, and her unborn child.
Her ordeal reportedly began on Saturday morning when some youths apprehended her and subjected her to public humiliation under the scorching sun.
Community sources revealed that after the incident, the elders ordered the youths to escort the woman out of Ugbema as punishment for the alleged theft.
The action has triggered outrage among residents and human rights groups who described the treatment as cruel and unjust.
They argued that the woman deserved sympathy and assistance rather than humiliation, saying her actions reflected the worsening poverty and social neglect in the community.