Dispatches

Saving Africa's Witch Children: "Bishop" arrested

Features

Thursday 04 December 2008

Less than one month after Channel 4 broadcast the Dispatches film, Saving Africa's Witch Children, police in south east Nigeria arrested "Bishop" Sunday Ulup-Aya - a man who told documentary film makers he had killed over 100 child "witches".

Following the arrest, state governor Chief Godswill Akpabio pledged to strengthen laws to protect children from individuals who trade on superstitions about black magic and said the state would "destroy and demolish" every church that engaged in such practices.

Mr Ulup-Aya, who told the Dispatches team he "delivered" children from demonic possession, has now been charged with murder.

Gary Foxcroft, the director of Stepping Stones, who provided much of the information for the programme, said:

"The international outrage generated by the film has led to the Akwa Ibom State Government taking urgent action to address the gross violations of child rights that have been taking place in the state due to the belief in child "witches".

"Stepping Stones Nigeria welcomes this positive intervention and sincerely hopes that this will mark the beginning of a more long term governmental strategy to help protect and save the lives of stigmatised children in Akwa Ibom State."

Read more about this arrest and related news stories via the Stepping Stones Nigeria website.

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  1. What exactly are the so called church leaders doing about this matter! What are they preaching? what souls are they saving? Jesus the one they all claimed to be following and preached command us to accept the kingdom of God as little children! if by chance a child is possessed by any foreign spirit ,it is the duty of the church and the so called prophet,pastors,bishops and the likes to pray and cast out the evil spirit that has invaded the child's body which primarily was the temple of God. Children are innocent,pure at heart and Godly and God's kingdom like!
    Posted by Ben on 27/11/2009 04:29:17
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  2. i have never in my life seen or heard such enormities . the ignorence is incmprehensible. how could such things be done to children in the name religion? something must be done to protect the children of nigeria against this evil. it is the pastors and denounceors who are the demonic forces at work in that lost ,benighted country.what a world we live in to allow such madness to exist.
    Posted by chris wilson on 27/11/2009 03:26:46
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  3. I was shocked by both episodes and can't believe that with all the changes in society, people can believe that their own children would be the cause of all of their problems in the country.
    Posted by Lisa on 25/11/2009 12:02:49
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  4. The children are innocent. This was one of the most heart-breaking pieces of documentary I have ever seen. It goes back to poverty and a lack of education and some of these pastors are simply pure evil incarnate. If any of theses people are possessed by "satan" it's these cruel, corrupt, fat bishops. Again, I wish Africans would procreate less. If "child witches" are a local fear, I wish they'd fear having so many children they cannot afford.
    Posted by Melissa on 24/11/2009 19:08:48
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  5. Good For Him Serves Him Right You Shouldnt Be Acussing Children Anyway I Cant Wait To See The Other Documentry On This I Went To The Confrence It Was Very Good
    Posted by CHER;SZ on 18/11/2009 19:32:51
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  6. the children are all innocent - all children are children of god and each and every adult responsible for harming a child will answer to GOD -
    Posted by peacetoallmankind on 15/10/2009 12:56:53
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