The HAWK Project

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Child-Witchcraft Accusation: HAPSTA Aids Police

---arrests petty trader who abandoned ‘witch’son in neighboring state

A petty trader, Mr. Edoho Ben Edoho on Saturday 24th August 2013 was arrested by men of Eket Divisional Police Command for child abuse and trafficking. Mr. Edoho who hailed from Akpautong in Esit Eket Local Government of Akwa Ibom state was arrested at his shop in Ikot Odiong, Eket for maltreating and abandoning his six year-old son Daniel Sunday after Humanist Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advancement (HAPSTA) and its partner, Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN)reported him to the police.

According to investigation, Mr. Edoho and his new wife accused the boy, Daniel, of being responsible for their misfortune through his witchcraft; so, Edoho transported Daniel to Port Harcourt back in July and abandoned him there. However, on 1st August, a good Samaritan, Mr. George Obot found the boy in Ahaoda Rivers state and took him to HAPSTA Children Transit Centre in Eket where the boy was accommodated.
Commenting on the arrest, HAPSTA Project Manager, Mr. Ayobami Ojedokun said due to their experience in the state since 2008, members of the organisation are not surprised by the tactics being employed by child abusers and that they will not relax their efforts in prosecuting them. He added that the organisation since 2008 has been caring and fighting for the rights of children maltreated and stigmatised for witchcraft accusation in Akwa Ibom state.

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