Two NGOs are working to stop the labeling of individuals, especially the elderly and children, as witches in Cross River state. They aim to address the social issue of witchcraft accusations leading to attacks, killings, and societal breakdown.
Two Non-Governmental Organisations, the Community Initiative for Peace and Social Development (CIPSD) and Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) have come together to fight against the branding of people as witches in Cross River communities. Charles Itu, the programme director of CIPSD, said this on Monday during an interview with journalists in Calabar on the coalition’s activities.
Mr Itu said the stigmatisation of individuals, particularly aged persons and children, as witches was becoming worrisome and should be tackled. Attacks and killings of people accused of witchcraft have remained a major social issue in Cross River. In the past months, some elderly people in some communities in the state have been beaten and lynched, while children have been abandoned or sent away from their homes on accusations of being witches. The programme director, Mr Itu, who spoke about visiting different communities in Odukpani, Akamkpa and Yakurr Local Government Areas of Cross River, said such harmful cultural practices continued to erode social cohesion and violate human rights. According to him, local beliefs often attribute misfortunes, illnesses or deaths to supernatural causes, leading to branding vulnerable individuals as witches.Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you.“This harmful narrative is exacerbated by unregulated traditional healers and spiritualists who exploit these fears for personal gai
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