Human Rights Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs, in conjunction with the Benue State University (BSU) Makurdi, has held an advocacy lecture and exhibition to sensitize and empower students with the knowledge to stop inhuman treatment of people perceived to possess witchcraft powers.
The exhibition and roundtable discussion was organized by the the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW), International Network Against Accusations of Witchcraft and Associated Harmful Practices (TINAAWAHP) and the Department of Political Science, BSU Makurdi, with a theme “Witch Hunts in the 21st Century: A Human Rights Catastrophe.”
The Director, Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Dr Leo Igwe said the event was being staged in Benue because the State has been a hotspot for attacks, killings and other horrific abuses linked to anti-witchcraft activities (Mbatsav in Tiv, Aleku in Idoma), adding that he and his team want to try and end the abuses.
He described as unfortunate the fact that many people in the State still attribute the cause of their problems to witchcraft or witches, including diseases like breast cancer, diabetic sore, psychiatric issues, infertility, poverty, inability to find a husband or wife, accidents, sudden deaths, business and academic failures.
He said: “Many people believe that some mainly elderly persons have occult powers and use these powers to fly out at night to suck blood, or go for occult meetings in neighbouring cities and communities.
“Many people believe that they could be initiated or their children could be initiated into the occult world after taking some biscuits or other snacks from fellow students or neighbours. Many people in Benue state believe that some people through touching or shaking their hands magically make their penis disappear.
“And as a result of their mistaken, superstitious and irrational beliefs, people commit atrocities. People attack and kill suspected witches with impunity. People abduct them and torture them, they force plantain stems into their anus, they bury them alive, strip them naked, banish or most often lynch them.
“Witch belief has caused a human rights catastrophe in Benue. We want to end this catastrophic situation.”
Igwe added that the event is an attempt to push back, highlight the violations and injustices that alleged witches face and suffer, adding that he and his team are committed to sensitizing and educating the youths so that instead of perpetrating the jungle justice or standing aloof when such crimes are committed, they can do something to save victims.
He expressed worries over high cases of jungle justice against persons perceived to possess witchcraft powers saying AFAW has recorded over 150 cases across the country in the last one years with seven cases in Benue state.
“We hope to use this event to empower victims and their families and get them to speak out and get psychosocial and material help and support. If anyone has been a victim or you know someone who has been a victim please come forward. AFAW exists to support and empower you.
“Also if you suspect someone of bewitching you or your relative this is an opportunity to get some help, to get educated and enlightened.
“We hope to use this event to rally the people of Benue state, especially youths and students against witch hunts and other superstition based abuses,” he said.
Earlier, the Dean of Political Science, BSU, Professor Benjamin Ahule and the Head of Department, Dr Atah Pine urged the students to pay attention and be advocates against violation of rights of people alleged to be witches.
The Dean who said he has suffered such accusation, accused some churches of fueling witch hunting, attacks and jungle justice on the elderly alleged to be witches, urging such churches to stop unfounded prophecies in order to minimize human rights abuses.
Also speaking, the resource persons, Terver Akase and a neurosurgeon with the Federal University of Health Science Otukpo, (FUHSO), Dr Amina Onyewuchi contended that such allegations are fueled by ignorance.
The medical doctor disclosed that they are always having cases of advanced cancer at the hospital because people blame witches when they are sick instead of seeking medical help for their ailments at the early stages.
While advising the public to visit the hospitals when they are sick, Onyewuchi said: “Some accusations leveled against the devil are not true. Some issues traced to witchcraft are borne out of ignorance. Most illnesses you glorify witchcraft with are not true. Go to the hospital anytime you have ill-health, even mad people are treated in the hospital. Don’t neglect the role of the hospital when you are sick.”
The neurosurgeon who is the Chairperson of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Benue branch, urged the organizers to take the advocacy to rural communities for greater results.
The organizers displayed a collection of photographs showing victims of witch- persecution and penis disappearance, highlighting their stories and the human rights implications of witch hunts.
