Madam Malinda Mgbafor Okereke, the last surviving twin rescued by Scottish missionary Mary Slessor in Arochukwu, Abia State, has passed away at the age of 115, her family announced on Thursday.
In a statement released to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia, Bishop Okechukwu Okereke, the only surviving son of the deceased, confirmed that Madam Okereke, fondly known as “Mama Nsu Bekee” (Mama who speaks English), died on March 5 after a brief illness.
Born around 1800 alongside her twin sister, Mgbokwo, Madam Okereke entered the world during an era when twin births were considered taboo in Arochukwu and parts of the Lower Cross River region. The now-abolished practice of twin killings saw such children cast into the “evil forest” until Mary Slessor arrived in 1876 and campaigned to end the tradition. Mgbokwo, her twin sister, passed away nearly two decades ago.
According to the family, Slessor and her team not only attended to the twins’ birth at their maternity in Obinagu, Amasu Village, Arochukwu, but also adopted and fostered them. The twins received formal education at Mary Slessor Primary School (now Mary Slessor Secondary Technical School), where they developed a strong command of the English language, earning Madam Okereke her nickname.
Bishop Okereke described his mother as a vibrant figure who remained strong, neatly dressed, and joyful until her final moments. She is survived by one son, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous relatives, having had three children—a daughter and two sons.
Madam Okereke’s life stands as a testament to the transformative impact of Mary Slessor’s missionary work in abolishing harmful cultural practices and promoting education in Nigeria’s Arochukwu region.
