Cookie Mba
Madam Malinda Mgbafor Okereke, the last surviving female twin rescued by Scottish missionary Mary Slessor in Arochukwu, Abia State, over a century ago, has passed away at the age of 115.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on behalf of the family by her only surviving son, Bishop Okechukwu Okereke, on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Fondly remembered as Mama Nsu Bekee title reflecting her association with the white missionary Madam Okereke and her twin sister, Mgbokwo, were born at a time when twin births were viewed as an abomination in the Arochukwu Ancient Kingdom and its environs within the Lower Cross River region.
Their birth took place around the early 1800s, during the era when twins were routinely killed and cast into the evil forest due to deep-seated cultural beliefs, just before Mary Slessor arrived in the region for her missionary work. Their lives were spared through the courageous efforts of Mary Slessor, the Scottish missionary who defied the prevailing norms and fought to end the ritual killings of twins in southeastern Nigeria.
Madam Okereke became a living symbol of that turning point in Nigerian history an embodiment of a cultural shift brought about by Slessor’s unwavering advocacy.
Her passing not only closes a remarkable chapter in the legacy of missionary intervention in Nigeria but also serves as a poignant reminder of how far the country has come in challenging harmful traditional practices.
Burial arrangements, according to the family, will be announced in due course.
Madam Okereke is survived by one son, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous relatives. She had three children in total, a daughter and two sons.
