Malinda Mgbafor Okereke, the last known surviving female twin rescued by iconic Scottish missionary Mary Slessor, has passed away at the remarkable age of 115.
Her death was confirmed in a heartfelt statement released by her only surviving son, Bishop Okechukwu Okereke, and shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Thursday.
A Twin Born in Dangerous Times
Mgbafor and her late twin sister, Mgbokwo, were born during a dark era when the killing of twins was still widely practiced in Arochukwu and across parts of the Lower Cross River region of Nigeria. At the time, twin births were feared and seen as evil omens, often leading to the abandonment or murder of newborns in so-called “evil forests.”
Mary Slessor’s Intervention
Arriving in Nigeria as a missionary in the late 1800s, Mary Slessor made it her mission to end this cruel tradition. In 1876, she enforced a ban on twin killings and directly rescued and raised many twins herself, including Malinda and Mgbokwo.
According to the family’s statement, the twins were born at Slessor’s maternity center in Obinagu, Amasu Village, Arochukwu. They were not only delivered by Mary Slessor and her team but were also adopted and brought up by her personally.
Education and Legacy
Under Slessor’s guardianship, the twins received formal education at the Mary Slessor Primary School, which later became Mary Slessor Secondary Technical School, Arochukwu. Malinda’s ability to speak English fluently earned her the affectionate nickname, “Mama Nsu Bekee” — translated as “Mama Who Speaks English.”
A Life of Strength and Grace
Bishop Okechukwu Okereke described his mother as a woman of dignity and strength.
“She remained strong, joyful, and immaculately dressed until her final moments before her passing on March 5 after a brief illness,” he shared.
Malinda Mgbafor Okereke is survived by one son, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a large extended family.
Final Farewell
Her funeral service has been scheduled for August 30, and will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, followed by burial at her family compound in Amasu, Arochukwu.
Her life not only represents a chapter in Nigeria’s cultural transformation but also serves as a lasting legacy of Mary Slessor’s humanitarian work and courage in protecting vulnerable lives.
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