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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