There has been an embarrassing rise in human abuse and dehumanization in Ebonyi State, especially in Izzi land, including the exile of those thought to be witches.
There are numerous accounts of spiritual binding, tying, casting, or discarding people who are malnourished, deformed, or suffering from long-term illnesses, labeling them as witches and wizards.
In some communities, these people were accused of being responsible for the misfortunes of specific individuals or the community as a whole, while in others, they were brought to churches for deliverance and casting out of alleged demons tormenting them. Such individuals are shunned or exiled from the community after being labeled as witches or wizards.
A recent incident involved the mistreatment of a child who was allegedly constantly ill. Her parents became weary and took her to a local prophet, who accused her of being a witch and began subjecting her to various forms of abuse and humiliation in an attempt to purge the evil from her.
On social media, the incident at Isohumini Agbaja, Izzi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, garnered a lot of attention.
James Nwankpu, a self-proclaimed prophet, was taken into custody by the Ebonyi State Police Command due to allegations of child abuse in a widely shared video on social media.
The Command revealed that a child was seen being carried and handled by the suspect in what it called “an abusive and inhumane manner” while the child was lying on the ground.
Nwankpu James was taken into custody by the Nigeria Police Force’s Ebonyi State Command after a video went viral showing the suspect abusing and mistreating a child while they were lying on the ground.
According to a statement from the Command, “Hope Urunwa Okafor, Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, immediately directed operatives of the Command to ensure the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of the child.”The rescued child was taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA) for immediate medical attention while the incident was being investigated, the police also revealed. The Command issued a warning against all forms of child abuse and cruel treatment and reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights and dignity of all citizens, especially children.
Residents were reassured by the Command that it would keep cracking down on anyone engaged in actions that could jeopardize the safety and well-being of children in the state.
Chief Sampson Oko Nweke, the chairman of Ebonyi State Human Rights Defender, a human rights organization, became aware of the unpleasant incident. He posted a warning on social media and praised the police for acting quickly to arrest and save the child from death.
This is Prophet James Nwankpu, the local Izzi pastor who allegedly attempted to kill a sick child by calling him a witch.
As promised, the innocent child has been saved and taken to safety, and the pastor and the child’s parents are currently in police custody. A thorough investigation into the tragic event has been started by the police.
We also sincerely thank Comrade Leo Igwe and everyone else who spoke out against the cruelty and wickedness inflicted on this defenseless child for bringing this unpleasant development to our attention.
Together, we will keep fighting against violence, ignorance, and superstition in order to make our society a more secure and compassionate place for everyone.
Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AAW), a non-governmental organization, vehemently denounced the prophet’s actions and urged the state government and security services to make sure the offenders are held fully accountable.
The group brought up another instance of a man who was shunned in the Izzi Local Government Area after being accused of being a wizard.
The group called on the government and security services to target prophets, pastors, diviners, and other charlatans who mislead families and communities by using magical abilities.
Dr. Leo Igwe, the founder of AAW, described how a Chief Ekpono from the Izzi community was shunned by his family after being accused of witchcraft.
He bemoaned a situation in which Ubadinma, a self-described prophet, and other Christian witch hunters went to a village and organized a witch-cleansing campaign that resulted in harm and devastation.
Igwe voiced worry that the people detained in connection with the Chief Ekpono case have not been brought to justice in order to discourage others.
He claimed that witchcraft exorcists who purport to perform deliverance services and drive out witches and demons have caused numerous crises, suffering, and fatalities among the local populace.
The group expressed regret that the government’s lack of serious attention to the threat has allowed the killing and victimization of suspected witches to continue unchecked, noting that it is illegal.
He called on the Ebonyi State Government to take proactive steps to combat ritual attacks and accusations of witchcraft.
“The Ebonyi State Government must take decisive action to combat abuses and violations associated with witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks,” he declared.
To combat this threat, both state and non-state actors must take administrative, legal, political, and educational actions. The nation’s moral and social conscience is now troubled by witch hunting.
It has caused suffering, agony, and humiliation for everyone who longs for advancement and growth. Interestingly, the reaction to abuses associated with ritual attacks and witchcraft beliefs has mostly been reactive and ineffectual.
Witch hunting has not received the urgent attention it merits. Either there are no interventions or they are implemented too little or too late. Because of this, criminals frequently get away with their crimes, which makes them believe they are above the law. This needs to change. To make this shift a reality, everyone must be on board.
