Checking Child-Witch Syndrome In Nigeria

A film, “The Fake Prophet”, has just been premiered in Abuja and the movie aims at stemming the “child-witch” syndrome, which is prevalent in most parts of Nigeria, especially in Akwa Ibom State.

The film’s plot involves two children, who were branded as witches in their communities and were subsequently ostracised.

An avaricious man, who claims to be a clergyman, takes custody of the children, ostensibly to “deliver” them from the spirit of witchcraft.

Instead, he exploits them and further worsens their situation, while also defrauding other unsuspecting persons in his nefarious acts.

Nemesis, however, catches up with the fake cleric and he is arrested, tried and sentenced to a 10-year jail term, the maximum for child rights’ offences in the state.

The film’s producer – Stepping Stones Nigeria (SSN), an international charity organisation, says that the production is one of the several efforts of SSN to campaign against child rights’ abuses, especially “child-witch” stigmatisation, child trafficking, labour and abandonment.

Observers say that in Nigeria, several persons are often accused of practising witchcraft, an accusation which has led to many being killed, maimed or completely ostracised by their local community members.

No doubt, the belief in witchcraft is deeply rooted in the traditions of many communities across Nigeria, though the syndrome of “child-witches” is a relatively recent phenomenon.

Analysts say that such beliefs result from cultural superstitions, religious practices or even insidious poverty.

They recall that the international community only came to the full realisation of the scope of the “child-witch” syndrome about two years ago, when the mass media broke the news of its prevalence in Akwa Ibom to the international community.

SSN’s Programme Director, Mr Gary Foxcroft, says that the film seeks to highlight the legal consequences of child stigmatisation as witches.

According to him, the realisation of such consequences by families and communities will compel them to re-appraise their age-old beliefs and prejudices and change them.

“It aims to counter-balance the contents of some Nollywood films, which have exacerbated the belief in “child witches” and consequently, encouraged the abuse and abandonment of innocent children.

“The film will be released in UK into the international markets, while it will be widely distributed throughout Nigeria, with thousands of copies given out free to citizens of Akwa Ibom and neighbouring states, where the scourge is prevalent.

“Translations will be made into French, as well as other indigenous languages,’’ Foxcroft says, adding that the mass production of the movie will support efforts to uphold the rights of the Nigerian child.

In a matter of days, when Nigeria will be marking its 50th anniversary as a sovereign nation, no fewer than 80 children in far away Eket will also be celebrating freedom of a different kind within the precincts of their new dormitory at a rehabilitation center built for them by UNICEF.

The children, who had suffered inhuman treatment as a result of their being branded as witches, can now boast of a more comfortable environment, which sharply contrasts with their former abodes that exhibit squalor.

Observers say that the provision of the children’s rehabilitation centre is very instructive as the children, who had been abandoned and abused, are being successfully rehabilitated.

They recall that about two years ago, these children had no hope as they were abandoned by their parents, while some worship places capitalised on their plight to extort gullible parents and guardians.

Often, most of the children, who came from poor backgrounds, were taken to certain worship houses where they “confessed” their misdeeds during sessions often characterised by vicious forms of torture.

However, the fortunes of these hapless children changed when their plight came to the limelight, while stakeholders rallied around to give them succour.

According to the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN), an Eket-based NGO, the “child-witch” syndrome in Akwa Ibom has steadily been on the decline.

CRARN’s President, Mr Sam Ikpe-Ituama, a child rights activist, says that the efforts and commitment of Akwa Ibom Government to tackling the menace is substantially responsible for the drop.

“Since the enactment of the Child Rights’ Act in Akwa Ibom in 2008, there has been a lot of enlightenment, advocacy and work in the direction of protecting the rights of defenseless children.

“We are focused on ending the ‘child-witch’ syndrome, which is largely caused by poverty and ignorance. We are committed to ending the phenomenon in partnership with the state government and other stakeholders,’’ he says.

Ikpe-Ituama says he is glad that government has been arresting and prosecuting those who abused the child rights, especially clergymen and parents, who were deeply involved in the stigmatisation.

“We have so many cases that are pending in the courts or are at various stages of investigation by the police. However, the establishment of family courts will hasten dispensation of justice.

According to Ikpe-Itauma, the children’s rehabilitation centre has been able to reunite many children with their families after counselling sessions for both parents and children.

“Reconciliation is an integral part of our work, and every week, children leave the centre because we believe that the best place for the child is the home; the centre is only to provide temporary relief to the stigmatised children.

“Our records show that in 2009, we rescued 84 children from the streets. So far, 52 have been rescued this year, out of which four have returned home. Two cases were referred to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development,’’ he says.

Ikpe-Ituama believes that the children, whose ages range from two to 15 years, have overcome their trauma and are also now in school, sometimes helping out in the campaigns against child abuse.

He applauds the efforts of the Akwa Ibom Government, saying that “we have been relieved of so many burdens by the assistance from the government.

“Some of the children from here have been transferred to the government shelter for abandoned children in Uyo and that is why this place is no longer congested as it used to be,” he says.

Ponle, writes for NAN

Buki Ponle