I am writing to draw the attention of the general public to the despicable roles of our pastors and churches in the perpetration and spread of witchcraft-related abuse in the country. Most of our so-called men and women of God are to be blamed for this embarrassing and unfortunate development.

They have turned their churches and ministries into tools for witch-hunting.
They attribute all problems encountered by their members including diseases, death, accidents, poverty, unemployment, business failures, child birth difficulties – to the machinations of witches and wizards in their families and communities. Many of our evangelists, prophets and apostles have caused divisions and conflicts in many homes.
They incite their members to hate, turn against, kill or persecute members of their families and communities particularly old people, women, children or people with disabilities. Many pastors claim to have powers to identify and destroy the spirit of witchcraft and to exorcise anybody found to be possessed by this demonic spirit.
They organise witch-screening and witch-deliverance sessions where all those alleged to be witches and wizards are demonised, stigmatised and subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment in the name of exorcism. Unfortunately very little has been done to combat the spread of witchcraft related abuse and to bring to justice these criminals and charlatans who call themselves pastors and evangelists. The spread of witchcraft accusation has made our country Nigeria a laughing stock internationally. It has confirmed Nigeria as a nation that lacks the rule of law, respect for human rights and a sound educational system.
I am therefore calling upon President Goodluck Jonathan and all our state governors to take extra legislative and administrative measures to tackle witchcraft accusations and to bring to justice all witch hunting pastors and churches. All government agencies should step up efforts and campaigns to enlighten the people, prosecute and punish all those who indulge in witchcraft accusations, witch persecution and killing. Witchcraft accusations and related abuses must stop.

By Leo Igwe

@op, why e dey pain u? Dem don catch u winch before?

Akwenuke marho: @op, why e dey pain u? Dem don catch u winch before?

Not at all, its in our Nigerian nature to attribute failures to the external evil forces. Failing to take responsibility for our short-comings and looking towards prayer houses for solution when we have failed to identify the problem to be our own laziness.

I think this is a serious call to action - When i was vibrantly active in the study of the occult, i still went to church on Sunday and participated in house Fellowships.. I found it strange that I was not found out. only one person suspected because of my "strange" interpretations of scripture.. outside that i went undetected for years.. perhaps all this witch-hunting is borne out of the need to remain popular

It's not like the prayers ever work. I have three witches working for me. Business has never been so good, the last time they'd to kill anyone was pre-democracy..

These days, the potholes on the roads, wonderful medical pre-morgues/hospitals, flooding and Boko Haram provide enough blood for their daily rituals....

And when they need young innocent souls, all they do is walk up to the front during a church service, spin, speak in tongues and point at one.. The pastors and their mumu congregation do the rest of the work...

The author of the article makes too much sense....we should attribute our problems to ourselves and natural causes rather than look ofr witches and wizards to blame........na harry potter?

musKeeto: It's not like the prayers ever work. I have three witches working for me. Business has never been so good, the last time they'd to kill anyone was pre-democracy..

These days, the potholes on the roads, wonderful medical pre-morgues/hospitals, flooding and Boko Haram provide enough blood for their daily rituals....

And when they need young innocent souls, all they do is walk up to the front during a church service, spin, speak in tongues and point at one.. The pastors and their mumu congregation do the rest of the work...

Werey

lagerwhenindoubt: I think this is a serious call to action - When i was vibrantly active in the study of the occult, i still went to church on Sunday and participated in house Fellowships.. I found it strange that I was not found out. only one person suspected because of my "strange" interpretations of scripture.. outside that i went undetected for years.. perhaps all this witch-hunting is borne out of the need to remain popular

Usually, weird interpretation of scripture combined with behaviour, are signs the person is a cultist and/or into occultism.

Not sure why most christians prefer to ignore this and would rather want to believe the issue wont affect them.

Topic

Nigerian culture is based on voodoo, which typically encourages social stratification at the expense of "scapegoats" who are turned into "sacrificial victims" for the rest of the community to trample on.

In places where poverty and illiteracy is high and fear has a strong hold on the minds of the citizens due to various calamities and backwardness happening in the community, people who are considered agents of the adversary, will be blamed for such.

Now, as to whether the agents of darkness are indeed the people named ( some do confess), and the best way to handle the matter/s, often tends to be caught up in hysteria.

Usually, when someone is a witch, he or she is unable to stop destroying others- it becomes a second ( or is it primary) nature to destroy, often for no other reason besides obeying orders or simply because its what you do.

tpia@:
Topic

Nigerian culture is based on voodoo, which typically encourages social stratification at the expense of "scapegoats" who are turned into "sacrificial victims" for the rest of the community to trample on.

In places where poverty and illiteracy is high and fear has a strong hold on the minds of the citizens due to various calamities and backwardness happening in the community, people who are considered agents of the adversary, will be blamed for such.

Now, as to whether the agents of darkness are indeed the people named ( some do confess), and the best way to handle the matter/s, often tends to be caught up in hysteria.

Usually, when someone is a witch, he or she is unable to stop destroying others- it becomes a second ( or is it primary) nature to destroy, often for no other reason besides obeying orders or simply because its what you do.

I have never seen a rich man confess witchcraft. i mean witchcraft, not wicked acts in collusion with a native doctor like we see on Nollywood movies. All the persons who have been accused of flying at night are the poor. Personally, I believe those who confessed are deluded or they just had reoccurring hallucinations

tpia@:
Topic

Nigerian culture is based on voodoo, which typically encourages social stratification at the expense of "scapegoats" who are turned into "sacrificial victims" for the rest of the community to trample on.

In places where poverty and illiteracy is high and fear has a strong hold on the minds of the citizens due to various calamities and backwardness happening in the community, people who are considered agents of the adversary, will be blamed for such.

Now, as to whether the agents of darkness are indeed the people named ( some do confess), and the best way to handle the matter/s, often tends to be caught up in hysteria.

Usually, when someone is a witch, he or she is unable to stop destroying others- it becomes a second ( or is it primary) nature to destroy, often for no other reason besides obeying orders or simply because its what you do.

R u serious? what do you understand by Witch-Craft or the Occult.. a lot of folks have no idea or knowledge about Witch-Craft, they just let their imaginations run wild from watching all those horror movies as a kid. the the witch of Endor sound like a destructive person after she summoned the Spirit of Samuel? Bible says so.. soon I will hear some re.tard pastor say that it was a demon dressed up as Samuel

lagerwhenindoubt: I think this is a serious call to action - When i was vibrantly active in the study of the occult, i still went to church on Sunday and participated in house Fellowships.. I found it strange that I was not found out. only one person suspected because of my "strange" interpretations of scripture.. outside that i went undetected for years.. perhaps all this witch-hunting is borne out of the need to remain popular

what do u know about the occult? Do u believe in the existence of witches?

ezme:

I have never seen a rich man confess witchcraft. i mean witchcraft, not wicked acts in collusion with a native doctor like we see on Nollywood movies. All the persons who have been accused of flying at night are the poor. Personally, I believe those who confessed are deluded or they just had reoccurring hallucinations

are u saying that witches and wizards don't exist?

Akwenuke marho: are u saying that witches and wizards don't exist?

Let's just say i choose take the most rational explanation for all my short-comings,poor performances and never would I blame a third party for it.

if a witch came to you and told you exactly what s/he had done to destroy your path in life, would you believe him or her?

tpia@:
if a witch came to you and told you exactly what s/he had done to destroy your path in life, would you believe him or her?

I would escort him or her to yaba left psychiatric hospital Straight!!!

And how does that undo what has been done?

tpia@:
if a witch came to you and told you exactly what s/he had done to destroy your path in life, would you believe him or her?

No

tpia@:
And how does that undo what has been done?

He/she did nothing to me. My failures are my own.


The thing is, I am a success. So anyone that claims to be hindering me is lying to him/herself

ezme:

No

Well, good for you then. That's also an option.

No sense worrying about what cant be changed.

Logicboy03:



He/she did nothing to me. My failures are my own.


The thing is, I am a success. So anyone that claims to be hindering me is lying to him/herself

Nothing wrong with handling the issue that way either.

@tpia@ Do you take responsibility for the outcomes of your actions/decisions? Or you tend to believe there is an old witch lurking somewhere in your hometown peeping on you and make counter measures against your every move via some broken mirror/discarded bottle cork?

the essence of having Jesus is he said:

"fear not, I will be with you till the end of the age".


any witch peeking through bb, social media or hidden mike, should try to accept Jesus Christ into their life because satan does not forgive nor forget.

Satan doesn't forgive or forget? He learnt well from his former employer

musKeeto: Satan doesn't forgive or forget? He learnt well from his former employer

lwkmd, yeah very true.

So you want a Plea?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDCUEUEFnNw&feature=youtu.be

^^^ Do you expect me to waste MB streaming such lies?

Personally, I will like a tv show where we test the paranormal and try to confirm or debunk them. In more civilized climes, people would have investigated these acts of witchcraft and confessions and find out it is probably some sort of African mental illness or maybe some native psychadelics are responsible for them.
I seriously will like to start that kind of show where we have native doctors come and show us their powers and in return we give them free publicity (I should talk to Pagan9ja about this). Because I am seriously dying to believe these powers are really potent. But all I see around me points to the contrary.

this same rubbish was prevalent in medieval europe(even followed the pilgrims to the american colonies) when people also use to attribute every misfortune to spiritual forces e.g. the plague or any form of disease is attributed to witches cos modern medicine had not developed enough to even know what a bacteria is talkless of a virus...this is one of the reasons medieval times was referred to as "the dark ages" cos it was fraught with superstitions and overt religiosity, stifling progress in all societal and human endeavors from science to even the arts...it's sad my country nigeria is still hundred years behind (you can see it even here in this thread where so-called educated people blinded by superstitions are defending this savagery)...i blame relgion/christianity...cos even their bible (that condones slavery) instructs them to "suffer not a witch to live" same way it taught them how to treat slaves and was used to justify the slave trades

Large numbers of people were prosecuted for witchcraft in Europe between 1560 and 1630.Until around 1420, witchcraft-related prosecutions in Europe centred around maleficium, the concept of using supernatural powers specifically to harm others. Cases came about from accusations of the use of ritual magic to damage rivals. Up until the early 15th century, there was little association of witchcraft with Satan.From that time organised witch-hunts increased, as did individual accusations of sorcery. The nature of the charges brought changed as more cases were linked to diabolism. Throughout the century, a number of treatises were published that helped to establish a stereotype of the witch, particularly the Satanic connection. During the 16th century, witchcraft prosecutions stabilised and even declined in some areas. Witch-hunts increased again in the 17th century. The witch trials in Early Modern Europe included the Basque witch trials in Spain, the Fulda witch trials in Germany, the North Berwick witch trials in Scotland and the Torsåker witch trials in Sweden.

Witch-hunts also took place during the 17th century in the American colonies. These were particularly common in the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Haven. The myth of the witch had a strong cultural presence in 17th century New England and, as in Europe, witchcraft was strongly associated with devil-worship. About eighty people were accused of practising witchcraft in a witch-hunt that lasted throughout New England from 1648-1663. Thirteen women and two men were executed. The Salem witch trials followed in 1692–3, culminating in the executions of 19 people.

Tens of thousands of people were executed for witchcraft in Europe and the American colonies. Although it is not possible to ascertain the exact number, modern scholars estimate around 40–50,000. Common methods of execution for convicted witches were hanging, drowning and burning. Burning was often favoured, particularly in Europe, as it was considered a more painful way to die. Prosecutors in the American colonies generally preferred hanging in cases of witchcraft.

Europe 500 years ago:


Africa today:
[img]http://jdsmusings.files./2013/02/papua.jpg[/img]

PhenomenonVFX: Personally, I will like a tv show where we test the paranormal and try to confirm or debunk them. In more civilized climes, people would have investigated these acts of witchcraft and confessions and find out it is probably some sort of African mental illness or maybe some native psychadelics are responsible for them.
I seriously will like to start that kind of show where we have native doctors come and show us their powers and in return we give them free publicity (I should talk to Pagan9ja about this). Because I am seriously dying to believe these powers are really potent. But all I see around me points to the contrary.

well, in naija they consider india to be the center of voodoo and witchcraft power; below is a video of a skeptic who challenged an indian shaman to use his power to kill him all on live television, and ofcourse, all to no avail...

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbgUSiFiXoE 

bump.

aManFromMars: bump.

any so called pastor or evangelist or even christian who resorts to physical abuse in the name of christianity is no christian at all. Anyone who instills enmity between brethren and blows the fire is not a peace-maker.

This is what religious mentality has done in nigeria.

And that's all the more reason people need to hear the truth of Gods word and power to save and Gods love.