By Jephthah Oghenekome Johnson
In Isoko tradition, Eri (the spiritual force of justice) responds to adultery with strict order and severity.
When a woman commits adultery and her husband discovers it but still chooses to cover it up or sleep with her again, the Esemo law says that Eri will first punish the husband. Because he condoned the act, he becomes the first target.
After the husband, Eri turns to the woman. Her punishment is heavier: she must suffer a terrible sickness, and that sickness must lead to her death. There is no escape from this end.
The man who sleeps with another man’s wife is not always affected. In many cases, he may escape punishment entirely, since the woman was not forced or raped but gave herself willingly. However, if he knowingly commits adultery with her, Eri may still visit him last, often through prolonged suffering or a shameful death.
It is also important to note that Eri is never quick to act. The ancestors often allow time for the truth to come out — for the woman to confess and for sacrifices to be made to appease the gods. During this period, peace offerings can sometimes prevent Eri’s anger.
But once Eri begins to act, there is no turning back. At that point, no confession and no sacrifice can stop the punishment. Eri kills from the beginning to the end, and it is always too late to escape.
In conclusion, according to Isoko belief, Eri punishes in this order:
- The husband who covers up his wife’s adultery.
- The adulterous wife, with sickness that must end in death.
- The man who knowingly sleeps with a married woman (though in many cases, he may not be affected if the woman gave herself willingly).
In Isoko land, the penalty for a promiscuous woman is extremely heavy, and the justice of Eri is final once it begins
