A10-year-old
boy, Usen Okon, who was thrown into the Imo River in the Ikot Abasi
area of Akwa Ibom State, over witchcraft accusation, has survived the
ordeal.
A non-government organisation, the Humanist
Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advancement and its partner,
Child’s Rights and Rehabilitation Network, said the boy was being taken
care of by the groups.
The Senior Project
Manager of the organisation, Mr. Ayobami Ojedokun, told our
correspondent in Uyo on Tuesday that Okon was under the care of his
paternal aunt, identified simply as Ekaeyen, at Etebi community in the
Esit Eket Local Government Area of the state as his parents had died.
He
said a few days ago, Okon was aroused from sleep by Ekaeyen who took
him to her husband and asked him to confess to being a wizard.
He added that when Okon denied the witchcraft accusation, his aunt threatened to throw him into a river.
Ojedokun
said Ekaeyen, true to her words, on November 16, took Okon to the Imo
River and threw him into the water with the hope that he would drown.
“She
actually threw Okon into Imo River thinking that the boy would drown.
The boy came out of the water alive and went to their home, only to be
told that her auntie had relocated,” Ojedokun said.
The Project
Director, Mr. Adeyemi Johnson, added that HAPSTA/CRARN have reunited 16
children to their families from January to November, and referred two
children to Ministry of Women Affairs.
He added that
HAPSTA/CRARN had also rescued 17 children from January till date, while
the organisation had 15 children in its centre.
“We also
organise advocacy town hall meetings in Okobo, Ebughu and Etinan, where
child witches stigmatisation are commonplace. We brought pastors and
child rights activists together through a meeting at Ikot Abasi,” he
said.
Credit: Etim Ekpimah/PunchMetro
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