'Child-witches' of Nigeria seek refuge

Mary, a pretty five-year-old little girl with big brown eyes has been accused of being a 'witch'. Her father kicked her out onto the streets in one of the most dangerous parts of the world. Her crime: A local priest denounced her as a witch.

In the streets after being ostracised by the local priest who denounced her as a witch blaming her "evil powers" for causing her mother's death, Mary was vulnerable, frightened, sleeping rough and struggling to stay alive. Mary, found by a British charity worker now lives with 150 other children who have been branded witches. They are blamed for all their family's woes, and abandoned. Before being thrown out of their homes many were beaten or slashed with knives, thrown onto fires, or had acid poured over them as punishment or in an attempt to make them "confess" to being possessed. One young girl had a 3" nail driven into her skull. Mary and these other children are lucky. They are alive. Many children branded "child-witches" are murdered. Hacked to death with machetes, poisoned, drowned, or buried alive in attempts to drive Satan from their soul. These "devils children" are identified by powerful religious leaders at extremist churches. Christianity and traditional beliefs have combined producing a deep-rooted belief in, and fear of witchcraft. The priests say that child-witches bring destruction, disease and death to their families, saying once possessed, children cast spells and contaminate others. The religious leaders, the only ones that can help, offer help to the families, at a price. It costs them up to a years income for the priests to run exorcism or 'deliverance' to drive away the evil spirits. During the "deliverance" ceremonies, the terrified children are shaken violently, dragged around the room and have potions poured into their eyes while, the parents watch, praying their child will be cleansed. . Many children are held in churches, often chained up and deprived of food until they "confess" to being a witch. 10 years ago there were few cases of children stigmatised by witchcraft, but now in Akwa Ibom state, an estimated 15,000 children are stigmatised by witchcraft. Exorcism ceremonies is a lucrative business for the spiritual leaders. Many enjoy a lifestyle of large homes, expensive cars and designer clothes. Some Nigerians blame self-styled prophetess, Helen Ukpabio, a wealthy and influential evangelical preacher of the 150 branch, Liberty Gospel Church. She made a film, which was widely distributed. The film, End of the Wicked tells, in graphic detail, how children become possessed and shows them being inducted into covens, eating human flesh bringing chaos and death to their families and communities. Mother of 3, Mrs Ukpabio, wrote a book about how child witches can be identified. The signs for children under 2-yrs old, of a servant of Satan are crying and screaming in the night, high fever and worsening health. These symptoms are found among many children in impoverished regions with poor health care. Mrs Ukpabio says her work is true to the Bible and is a means of spreading God's word.

"Witchcraft is a problem all over Nigeria and someone with a gift like me can never hurt anybody. Every Nigerian wants to watch my movies".

She denies that her teachings and films could encourage child abuse. Gary Foxcroft, 29, programme director for the UK charity Stepping Stones, Nigeria, first went to Nigeria to research the oil industry for his masters degree. He was so shocked when he learned about the children's plight that he decided to help raise money for the refuge - the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (Crarn). He tried to persuade the parents to take their children back, and also helped build a school for the children who are refused entry at local schools.

"Any Christian would look at the situation that is going on here and just be absolutely outraged that they were using the teachings of Jesus Christ to exploit and abuse innocent children".

says Mr Foxcroft. Mr Gary Foxcroft, has exposed what he describes as "an absolute scandal". The documentary, Saving Africa's Witch Children will be shown on Channel 4 on Wednesday 12 November, at 9pm in the UK.

The documentary shows the charity worker visiting a pastor, who calls himself "the Bishop". He claims to drive evil spirits out of "possessed" children. At his church in Ibaka, the Bishop pours a homemade substance called African mercury, a potion of pure alcohol and his own blood into the eyes of a young boy lying on a table.

"I want this poison destroyer to destroy the witch right now, in Jesus' name".

he says. The priest charges 170 pounds for treating a child every night for two weeks. He holds them captive until the bill is paid. The Bishop claims there are 2.3 million "witches and wizards" in Akwa Ibom province alone and has recently refined his techniques for dealing with child witches.

"I killed up to 110 people who were identified as being a witch".

he says. Sam Itauma, a Nigerian that opened his home to 4 youngsters accused of witchcraft now cares for 150 youngsters along with 5 staff members. According to Sam 5 or 6 children are branded as witches daily, and once branded, it is very difficult for someone to accept that child back. If they leave this community there are a lot of attacks and assaults on the children. They arrive at his shelter with severe wounds, but most clinics will not treat a child believed to be a witch. Christians have been in Nigeria since the 19th century and the Niger Delta area claims to have more churches per square mile than any other place on Earth. Although, the majority of the country's 60 million Christians are moderate, an influx of Pentecostals over the past 50 years has led some churches to be dominated by extremist views. The Nigerian government passed a Child Rights Act, five years ago, which made abuse illegal, but not every state adopted it. At the end of the film, a demonstration is staged by Mr Foxcroft and the "child witches" at the Governors' residence in the state capital, Uyo, to urge him to adopt the Child Rights Act. Four hours later the Governor says the Act will be adopted. It has since been adopted, but not one single pastor has been convicted of any offence and the rescue centre still takes in up to 10 children a week. Mr Foxcroft returned Mary to her village, but was told that her father left a year ago to find work in Cameroon. A cousin says: "She is a witch, we don't want her here". Mary returned to the refuge.