Man’s Body Remains Unburied for 5 Years as Wives and Children Battle Over Property

A disturbing story shared on social media has reignited conversations around the dangers of polygamy in Nigeria.

A Nigerian woman, identified on X (formerly Twitter) as @Anambra_girl, revealed that her friend’s late father has remained unburied for almost five years due to an ongoing feud between his two wives and their children over the distribution of his property. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

According to her, the man had been married to two wives before his passing. Since his death, both women and their respective children have been locked in a bitter fight over who gets what, making it impossible to agree on burial arrangements.

“You see polygamy? Avoid it if you can. My family friend’s dad died almost five years ago and they can’t bury him yet because the two wives with their children are still dragging for the property,” she wrote.

Shockingly, she revealed that the properties have been left to rot due to neglect. Even the will the man left behind—naming trusted friends and his lawyer as executors—has failed to resolve the matter.

“His properties are left to ruins because the family he left behind can’t come to agree. Even the will he wrote… still they couldn’t do it till date,” she added.

The revelation sparked outrage and sympathy online, with many Nigerians sharing similar experiences of family disputes in polygamous homes.

Some reactions include:

• @OnyeAguata: “Nobody in the entire family ever loved the man. So nobody ever said they should set their greed aside and bury the man first????”

• @MeduFavour: “Pls don’t advise anybody 😂 who get body make he or she put body, they will feel it.”

The case serves as a grim reminder of the potential chaos polygamy can bring when there is no unity, and why proper estate planning—and execution—is crucial.