August 14, (THEWILL) – As part of activities to mark this year’s world day Against Witch Hunts, a coalition of UK and Nigeria-based NGOs, have called on the Nigerian federal government, State governments and key partners, to join hands to implement the UN resolution on the elimination of witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks.
The UN resolution urges States to condemn the widespread discrimination, stigma, social exclusion and forced displacement experienced by those accused of witchcraft and to ensure accountability and the effective protection of all victims of witchcraft accusations.
The call became pertinent in view of the recent upsurge in cases of extrajudicial murder of persons accused of witchcraft.
In Cross River State for instance, within the past seven weeks, at least two persons have been reportedly murdered by witch hunters.
Martina Okey Itagbor, a mother of four, was burnt to death by youths in Old Netim, after being accused of being a witch.
The perpetrators accused the woman of using witchcraft to cause a car accident, which claimed the lives of two youths.
Before her murder, Late Martina Itagbor was earlier accused by some hoodlums of inflicting illness on a certain youth in the community.
About ten days ago, young men, suspected to be leaders of Ipong Youths Council, reportedly shot dead Adie Ungwgwaye, the family head of Bebuatswan village in Obudu LGA.
The youth leaders alleged that the elder was responsible for the death of one youth named Richard Unimke from the same community.
Stakeholders, who played key roles in the process of this historic resolution believe more action is needed if it is to be implemented and such horrific human rights abuses are to be eradicated.
James Ibor, a senior official of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, said: “Today marks another important step in the fight against witch hunts and witch hunters.
“Whilst some progress has been recorded in recent years, many women, children, elderly and disabled people in Nigeria face severe violations of their rights on a daily basis due to harmful beliefs and practices.
“We call upon the Federal and State governments, to use the Pan African Parliament guidelines on the issue to help guide them with the implementation of the UN resolution”, he said.
On his part, Gary Foxcroft, Chair of Trustees of Safe Child Africa in the UK, posited that “we have seen some good progress in recent years with regard to the child rights landscape in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, with the enactment of implementation criminalising witchcraft accusations by the state governments.
“However, often horrific cases are still regularly recorded and much more work needs to be done to help put in place appropriate awareness and capacity-building programmes to ensure that judges, lawyers, prosecutors and law enforcement officers have the necessary skills to respond to cases of harmful practices related to witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks (HPWAR).
Similarly, Dr Leo Igwe, Director of Advocacy for Alleged Witches, has been working tirelessly on these issues now for over 20 years and has personally rescued and supported numerous cases of HPWAR.
The German-based advocate said, “The response of national judicial systems differs between states and oftentimes human rights violations related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks are not prevented, investigated or prosecuted.
“Human rights mechanisms have until recently also been silent on the issue. This has emboldened perpetrators and perpetuated impunity”, he said.
The NGOs unanimously called for much closer collaboration, support and guidance with the ongoing fight to put a stop to some of the 21st century’s most heinous crimes and atrocities, which are often carried out due to erroneous belief in witchcraft.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
