EKET (AKWA IBOM) - An NGO, Stepping Stones Nigeria (SSN), says it is ready to co-operate with the Akwa Ibom Commission of Inquiry into the child witchcraft cases .
The commission members are billed to visit London to take testimonies.
The commission was established on November 22, 2010 by Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom to investigate the extent of child witchcraft accusations.
The commission is expected to make recommendations to address the child witchcraft syndrome and child abuse cases in the state.
In a statement in Eket, the NGO said it was ready to scrutinize its finances as it remained an accountable and transparent organisation.
Akpabio had accused officials of the NGO of fraud and
exaggerating the child-witch syndrome in the state and
promised to effect their arrest in a radio broadcast in September
2010, following a report by Cable News Network (CNN).
The statement, signed by Emilie Secker, the NGO Advocacy Programme Officer, said “this commission is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, in spite of accusations of child witchcraft being a significant problem in many countries, including the UK.
“The final report and recommendations of this commission will also be the first time that any government body has ever detailed the nature of the problem and identified means to address it. This is a major step forward for child rights”
She said the SSN was in support of the commission since its inauguration and had submitted an 800-page dossier of evidence to support its claim of abuses relating to child witchcraft.
“Such abuses include cases of children who have been abandoned, beaten, burnt with fire or acid, thrown into rivers, attacked with machets and even killed as a result of being accused of witchcraft.”
The panel had received written and oral evidence from more than 60 witnesses including children, parents, community leaders, United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), churches, government officials and NGOs on same issue.
Meanwhile, the panel has been compelled by the turnout of witnesses who responded to its call for memoranda to seek the extension of its original time frame of six weeks.
The commission had visited the graves of alleged victims of witchcraft accusations reportedly killed by communities in Esit Eket, Akwa Ibom.
Meanwhile the people of Unyenge Community in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom have pledged to partner with a non-governmental organisation, Stepping Stones Nigeria Child Empowerment Foundation (SSNCEF) in fighting the child witchcraft syndrome.
Reports say that the community made the pledge at a forum organised by SSNCEF for communities with high rate of child abandonment.
Speaking on the occasion, the Head of the Community, Chief Etim Uyot, said that stigmatisation and torture of children were condemnable and illegal under the Child Rights Act.
He said that the community would desist from abandoning children, advising that cases of stigmatised children should be reported to the authorities for appropriate sanctions.
The community leader also pledged that necessary measures would be taken to tackle the child witch syndrome, urging the SSNCEF to establish its office in Oron.
Also speaking, Mr Utibe Ikot, the Programme Director of SSNCEF, said that they were embarking on the sensitisation and advocacy visits to educate the affected communities on the Child Rights Law.
He said that the law made it illegal to call any child a witch and provides for a jail term of up to 10 years or a fine of N500,000 or both upon conviction.
Ikot also said that SSNCEF was providing short-term solutions to the problem by offering psycho-social and welfare support to street children.
He said that the foundation was also using various means to reorientate Oron communities on child stigmatisation for alleged witchcraft.
“We have among other things facilitated music and life theatre performances to educate people at the grassroots against the belief in child witchcraft, exposing the ploys used by many pastors to extort money from helpless and ignorant parents,” he said.
NAN reports that the meeting was attended by traditional rulers, clergymen, market women and youth groups in Unyenge Community
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AS our Royal Father, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin celebrates 32 years on the throne of his great ancestors this day, suffice it say once more that he is an illumined being, a great soul in whom sweetness and light is blended.
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