Two Children Saved By Police Before Being Killed By Witch Hunters In Akwa Ibom

The Kids

BY JOE ENO

The Police Divisional Headquarters in Eket Akwa Ibom State Nigeria  have rescued two children  from the hands of 'witch' killers who are in the habit of attacking and killing children abandoned on the streets by parents after being dubbed witches in the churches.

The children who were male and female, age 8 and 6 are from Ibeno Local Government Area were rescued by the police on a tipoff by some concerned citizens  who witnessed how the children were tied up in a for hours stake  and beaten with sticks and cables were later  taken to the Child's Right and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN)

"When we got the information through a phone call, we acted swiftly believing that if there's any delay, we might not meet the kids alive! Fortunately, when we arrived the scene, the witch hunters ran away and left the children, so we took them  from Ibeno to Eket station and gave them first aid before bringing them this centre..."the police team led by Inspector Okoye said while handing over the children to Administrative Officer of CRARN, Mr. Nsidibe Orok

Inspector Okoye noted that the issue of child witch stigmatization and torture in Akwa Ibom State still remains a worrying phenomenon and would need a collective and intense effort to quell it.
"I know there are different challenges across the country, but  I don't think I've not witnessed how children are so targeted in the name of demonic possession as I'm witnessing here, in recent times'' he said.