Nkechinyere Ewa Okpara
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches, a civil society organization, has called on the government and security agencies to take action against pastors, prophets, diviners, and others involved in witch-hunting, which harms families and communities under the guise of combating witchcraft.
The organization highlighted that those who conduct witchcraft exorcisms and deliverance services, claiming to expel witches and demons, have caused immense pain and suffering to innocent individuals labelled as witches.
They allege that the killing and victimization of suspected witches is illegal and continues unabated due to the government’s failure to address the issue seriously.
Leo Igwe, the founder of the organization, made these remarks at a stakeholders’ consultative forum held in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State. He urged the state government to take proactive measures against witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks.
“The Ebonyi State government must take concrete steps to combat the abuses and violations associated with witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks. Both state and non-state actors must implement legal, administrative, educational, and political measures to tackle this menace. Witch-hunting has become a stain on the social and moral conscience of the nation.
“It is a source of pain, anguish, and embarrassment for all those who desire progress and development in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Unfortunately, responses to abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks have largely been reactive and ineffective.
“Witch-hunting has not received the urgent attention it deserves; there are either no interventions or the responses are too insufficient and delayed. This has created an environment where perpetrators often evade justice, leading witchhunters to believe they are above the law. This situation must change, and we must all work together to achieve that change.
“When it comes to abuses related to witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks, impunity must end. The rule of law must be upheld, and necessary socio-cultural shifts must occur. There should be genuine consequences for witch-hunting and related offences.
Igwe stressed that the police and other security agencies are not doing enough to prosecute those responsible for these acts, which would serve as a deterrent.
He recalled a recent incident in the state where a self-proclaimed prophet, Ubadinma, and other Christian witch hunters conducted a witch-purging crusade in a village. They incited violence, instigated attacks, caused injuries, displaced accused individuals, and destroyed their homes and property. While the police intervened and made some arrests, the suspects were later released. Currently, the case appears to have stalled, with no further actions taken to bring the perpetrators to justice, leaving the affected community without accountability.