Witch children of Nigeria
Current.com user hpseaton pointed out this disturbing story: Children denounced as witches are tortured, killed on Current News. Here's a short excerpt:
Last November, Channel 4 in the UK produced a documentary entitled "Saving Africa's Witch Children" which looked at this problem in Nigeria. (The video is not embeddable - but you can watch part of it over here.)
An editorial in Nigeria's Guardian newspaper later in the month confirmed the terrible accuracy of the documentary:
Even with the efforts of NGOs like Stepping Stones Nigeria to combat this problem in the Niger Delta region, it's a difficult task for the government. Especially since the government has a hard time in general policing the restive Delta region, as Mariana van Zeller found out when she visited Nigeria's MEND rebels.
Recently on the News Blog:
- Maldives holds their cabinet meeting underwater (Video)
- Karzai says yes to Afghanistan recount
- Insider trading: The Tamil Tiger connection
Nigeria is at the center of an increasing number of cases in which children accused of witchcraft are then tortured or killed.
Pastors were involved in half of 200 cases of "witch children" that The Associated Press reviewed, and 13 churches were named in the case files.
Last November, Channel 4 in the UK produced a documentary entitled "Saving Africa's Witch Children" which looked at this problem in Nigeria. (The video is not embeddable - but you can watch part of it over here.)
An editorial in Nigeria's Guardian newspaper later in the month confirmed the terrible accuracy of the documentary:
This documentary exposes a disturbing social reality in Nigeria: the reign of ignorance and obsession with superstition. Poverty has done terrible damage to our society and the souls of men. Surrounded by so much uncertainty and unable to fulfil basic ambitions, Nigerians are increasingly seeking solace in the new churches which promise "miracles and wonders." In these churches, extremism is the norm; any form of disappointment or career setback is identified as the handiwork of witches and wizards. And the priest, claiming to have supernatural powers, immediately points to a child, a relation or a colleague at work as the Devil. So many relationships have been destroyed as a result.
The churches organise what they call special Deliverance sessions, sometimes overnight, or early in the morning and every activity is targeted at "that witch in your life that is blocking your progress". Go to any of those churches and witness how feet-stumping, hysterical men and women scream: "Holy Ghost Fire, Burn Them"; "Father Kill My Enemy" "My enemy die, die. I say die, die, die, die by fire now" Thus, many churches have been taken over by closet assassins and murderers looking for witches, wizards and enemies to kill. Too many atrocities have been committed in Nigeria in God's name.
Even with the efforts of NGOs like Stepping Stones Nigeria to combat this problem in the Niger Delta region, it's a difficult task for the government. Especially since the government has a hard time in general policing the restive Delta region, as Mariana van Zeller found out when she visited Nigeria's MEND rebels.
Recently on the News Blog:
- Maldives holds their cabinet meeting underwater (Video)
- Karzai says yes to Afghanistan recount
- Insider trading: The Tamil Tiger connection
