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The "Witch" Children of Eket

February 14, 2009

Osa Cookey, the normally high-spirited president of Port Harcout's Hard Ridaz motor bikers club quietly turned and walked away from the crowd. This time though, his mobile phone wasn’t glued to his ear. 'What is the matter?’ I asked as I followed him. 'It just got too emotional' was his response. He would know, most of the visitors there are fathers too.


They rode on their motorbikes for over 10 hours into the oil rich southern Nigeria city of Port Harcourt from Lagos, Abuja & Kaduna. They rested for a night and the following morning all 26 of them revved up their engines for the 2-½ hour ride to Eket, Akwa Ibom State in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria.


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Thanks to IB Udofia, a few of the members had visited the children during Christmas. The majority were still struggling to understand how parents can not only give up these children, but put them through torture that is simply beyond words. This was the reality we faced while surrounded by the beautiful & spirited residents of the Child Right & Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) Center.


They leapt in the air, as high as their tiny limbs could take them seeing the shiny bikes riding through their village and stopping at the Centre. Founder Sam Itauma welcomed us heartily as the children almost pushed me to the sandy grounds amidst excited screams of ‘Aunty, Aunty’. Each face needing recognition, each little body yearning for a hug. I played guessing game to see if I could remember their names & faces from the last visit, and I remembered most. Somehow you just can’t forget.

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As the gifts and contributions from the bikers spilled into their open hands, Sam gave us some answers to some very disturbing questions. He explained that since our last visit, the number of the rescued children coming into the center had drastically reduced; that he was set to attend prosecution hearings for some of the parents of the affected children; that some 'pastors' of the so called churches had gone underground, while others still threatened his personal safety; that the state government had sent delegations to visit the center; that the ‘you tube’ documentary and our visit facilitated discussions that is now making a difference; that some of the children have been reconciled with their parents. Within a short distance from where we gathered, men were at work on a construction of a new girl’s wing. He introduced us to his helping hands, a group of young & old volunteers sacrificing all to bring a semblance of normalcy to the children.

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It is the desperate search for hope that has driven pulpits to make up anything and congregations to believe everything; such that ministers can label children as witches and parents can sell the clothes off their backs to pay for exorcising them. While the child pays the price of separation from their parents, by being tortured, poisoned, downed, beaten, and even killed, the ‘pastor’s’ coffers continue to swell.


The year is 2009, but it felt like Mary Slessor's pre-colonial era and had the makings of the Salem witch-hunt in the USA in 1692. Nigeria’s population is about 150 million, 5 million of which are in Akwa Ibom state. Witches population in the state is 2.3 million - that of course is according to another so-called ‘man of God’. Streets are lined with countless sign of churches and banners promising miracles. The Center holds about 170 children today; they started with only 4 in 2005. Amidst threats to his life, Sam continues with the rescue missions. His biggest fear he says, 'is for those children outside the center that are still yet to be rescued'


The strength of Michael (who needs surgery to straighten his left arm), The faces of Inidong, Patrick, Favour, Uduak, Miracle and Patience; The voices of Magdalene, Jerry, and Mama should haunt people and a government into action - to regulate sporadic rise in churches and limit illegal activities; and most importantly to protect the innocence of our children; and join the Prevent Abandonment of Children Today (PACT) to say, 'Stop It Now!’


And so we hit the road again, for the hour ride back to Port Harcourt. With the sun setting behind us and the voices of the innocent ringing in our heads, as they sang songs of blessings upon us to the same God they were accused of not serving.
Lagos Easy Riders, Abuja 09ers, Port Harcourt Hard Ridaz and to all the boys who showed up, donated, risked the road, took the falls, suffered the breakdowns and faced the anti-kidnapping squad, we say you all did good!

To Donate to CRARN: 
Bank Name:     Zenith Bank


Account Name:         CRARN


Account Number (US$):     4071043277


Sort Code:             057010027


Account Number (Naira):     611116369



Oyiza Adaba is the founder of Africa-Related and host of the TV series Messengers. She’s all over the place! [email protected]  www.africarelated.com

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