I have just watched a programme on the UK's Channel 4 called "Saving Africa's Witch Children". What it reveals is shocking. Children openly abused in an appalling manner. There were many children burnt with fire, tortured and there was even one girl who had a three inch nail hammered into her head. People are seen abandoning their children under the guise that they are witches. Any death, ill luck, lack of wealth etc is attributed to witches. It almost broke my heart to see a little girl of 5 years say that she thought she was a witch because that is what she had been called for so long. There was even a man who brandished his machete and who threatened to hack a little girl (of about 5-7 years) to death. The rise in the number of children who are accused of being witches has been alleged to the film "End of the Wicked" which was a film by Helen Ukpabio (the pastor of Liberty Gospel Ministries) - though there is no concrete proof of this apart from many accusers refering to it. In one of the shipping villages, the poor catch of fish was blamed on witchcraft. There was even an ignorant evangelist/pastor who boasted of killing about one hundred and ten witches.

Almost just as shocking is seeing parents cough up amounts of money they cannot even afford to dubious pastors/witch doctors etc.

When will Nigeria learn to move with the times? There is a Child Rights Act that does not work in protecting the children in any shape or form. I am sure if people in the USA and the UK had the same backward mentality, all those people who have lost their jobs and homes under the current financial crisis would have tortured, abandoned or killed their children.

WHICH WAY NIGERIA?

Nigeria is not going to move forward untill we are able to educate the masses. Everyone needs to be educated up to the secondary level and needs to be taught to think critically for themselves rather than listening to some scam artist posing as a preacher. I understand that people are bitter and as a result cling to relious beliefs to find comfort in their pain and suffering.

We need a grassroots movement in Nigeria. A movement with the sole purpose of providing education for the less fortunate amongst us. A movement would be run by dedicated volunteers. If we can do this, we will have a more educated population in a few decades who will stop blaming evey problem in the country on witchcraft and silly things like that. Eventually, we would have a significant population who understand that the reason for the sickness and poverty in the country is to do with bad government first and foremost, and then other factors such as laziness, lack of basic social ammenities and this inherent belief amongst Nigerians of lesser means that by just sitting down and praying for something it happens.

If the people are more aware of the role of government in their life, the government would be held more accountable. I dont care how many army men the government have, if the masses revolt and understand the reason for the revolt (which will enable people stay the cause) we will see serious change in Nigeria one day.

I also think that many of these churches that preach these messages of violence, intolerance and hatred need to be abolished. How can you claim to be a christian and yet support the killing of another human being for no reason other than a few people's paranoia. Its a shame

Now I'm not stupid! I know that Nigeria is soo spoiled that no one would even want to volunteer for this sort of programe for fear that it is a scam. Well, one can always hope.

Video detailing the new 419 scams of many churches in Nigeria who label innocent children as witches in order to extort money from the parents by claiming to cure the children of witchcraft.
Many of the children end up dead , killed by fearful parents.

Video: http://livinginblack.ning.com/video/child-victims-of-419-preachers

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY30JTYLejw[/flash]

Child witch victims of Nigeria Africa