The ‘Witch’ Children of Eket

Posted on Jan 5th, 2009 • Category: Interviews, News, Videos

Members of the Motorbikers Association of Nigeria visited the Childs Rights & Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) Center set up by Sam Ituama in the town of Eket in Akwa Ibom state. The Center is home for children tortured and abandoned by their parents and churches, accused of practicing witchcraft. Since the story broke with the documentary on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7pvQJD9cpQ), the plight of the children has received the much deserved worldwide attention. It was truly Christmas for the children having the bikers on shiny machines bearing gifts. The Motorbikers Clubs from all over Nigeria paid another visit on January 24, 2009. The question still remains; How/When will the perpetrators of such abominable acts against these innocent children be brought to justice? *Story & Photographs courtesy of Oyiza Adaba

Watch the Video!

Share This

8 Responses »

  1. Daniel on January 5th, 2009 at 1:16 pm:

    Poignant story! Luv D.

  2. Okey on January 6th, 2009 at 12:18 pm:

    Oyiza, great job on this continueing saga!!
    These children must be saved, Nigeria and Africa must be rid of these ills.

    Keep it up!!

    Okey

  3. faithy on January 8th, 2009 at 12:42 pm:

    oyiza gud job, pls keep it up, n remain blessed always; one luv nja, one luv africa

  4. lillian on February 4th, 2009 at 5:39 am:

    Osa Cookey, Oyiza Adaba, for u guys at the motor bikes Association i was really pleased with your efforts in highlighting the plight of these “witches” children to the world. you ve inspired me to join the train. am writing a story as ajournalist to further stress the need for governmental intervention. Now u guys have shown its not all about machine passion but the love for humanity. i salute.

  5. Ib on February 4th, 2009 at 10:05 am:

    Lillian, please do. Those kids need all the publicity and support we can bring to bear on their plight.

  6. Nigeria’s Foreign Minister reacts to the ‘witch’ children of Eket - ‘The children were paid’ | Africa-Related on February 15th, 2009 at 6:48 pm:

    […] http://www.africarelated.com/2009/01/05/the-witch-children-of-eket […]

  7. ata ikiddeh on February 16th, 2009 at 12:58 pm:

    I WAS THERE!!!
    I was at the centre on the 22nd of December 2008, from England. We arrived with some Social Workers.We distributed Christmas Toys - I played Santa Claus. Oyiza you arrived on the 23rd(?) ,the day after we left. Pls watch You tube for our film about the event (will be out 1st week of March 09)
    Going there was like stepping into another world-i felt i had stepped out of the 21st century. It is unbelievable what blind ignorance can do to a people. I am from Akwa ibom-but what i saw is not the Akwa `ibom i know- something has happened to my people. There seem to be this crippling paralyzing fear of some diabolical invisible evil force pervading the length and breath of the state. It seem to me”Ifot” (witchcraft in Ibibio language), has become the supreme power in the minds and hearts of my people. The result; innocent children abandoned by ignorant and frightened parents.

    Itauma the head of the centre is the true champion in this unfortunate national saga. A lot of the kids i saw were not well dressed, infact some of the children kids were so poorly clad with clothes that had gaping holes ( am not exaggerating-you’ll see it in my video coming out in 2 weeks). Living conditions are poor-the dormitories are crammed with thread bare mattresses and soiled sheets

    This centre needs at least 20 million naira for a full and complete over haul. We can’t keep looking up to government. The centre needs more staff and a rapid building extension to aacomodate the growing number of childen arriving every day. Nigerians need to send clothes , bedsheets , mattresses.

    WHAT CAN WE DO-WHAT CAN YOU DO???? ONE OF THOSE KIDS COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN YOU-WE DON”T CHOOSE OUR PARENTS OR WHERE WE ARE BORN!!!!

    I am putting 1 million naira down- but i need 20 other people who can put down 1 million naira each. I know there are Nigerians out there who can blink this amount out of their bank accounts and it wouldn’t dent their cheque books.

    Oyiza use your public relations machinery and organise” a massive global fund raising event” for this kids. Piece meal gifts are good but will not solve the plight of this kids and their families.

    THE CHOICE IS IN OUR HANDS!!!!

  8. georgina onuoha igwegbe on February 26th, 2009 at 5:39 pm:

    pls i will like to be contacted as regards this on going thrend in eket. its apity n shame, that in 21cntry where every nation on earth is working hard to protect children rights, instead our children are been killed by this so called pastors. pls oyiza, if u read this ,,,, pls contact me through this mail address.

Leave a Reply