Advocacy visit to the Norwegian embassy

As part of our efforts to ensure that the menace is not thinned out of public discourse, YHN/CARN team visited the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abuja. We were received by Geir A. Schei, Deputy Ambassador, at the chancellery on 22 June, 2010.

YHN/CRARN organises rally to mark World Family Day

In tandem with our belief in family as the best social institution for the growth of the child, YHN in partnership with CRARN organised an open rally on May 15, 2010 sharing handbills, pasting posters with anti- childwitch hunting messages amidst singing and dancing in and around Ikuta, Uya- Oron, Idua, Eyobasi, Ukpata, Esuk- Oron and Eyetong. The goal of the "energy intensive" walk and dance was to remind Oron Nation of the need to remember that care for children, not stigmatization, is the bedrock of family.

Apologies

For some times now, we have not updated the HAWK blog due to so many reasons, one of which is the spam attack we have experienced. Our ability to secure a website donation (thanks to Alan) also made us to consider focusing on developing our website for the news items. Unfortunately, our website: www.younghumanistasnetwork.net is still undergoing further development. We hope to update within days to come.

Onward!

YHN

SSNUK/YHN/CRARN/BRC Prosecution for Deterrence on course

Following the Newspaper reports (The Guardian, Wednesday, Jan., 27, 2010 page 8) on the arrest of Prophet Gideon Peter who allegedly killed two kids: Abasi-Ifreke Monday 7years and Edidiong Monday 10years by administering a concoction mixed with olive oil to the children. The police also, confirmed that their parents one Monday Akpan Bassey and Ima Monday Bassey at Ikot Ikpene, on the 29th December, 2009 took these children to the said prophet to exorcise the allege witchcraft spirit possessing them.s

Also in Police custody is one Ben Esifa is alleged to have murdered the sister; one Eno Ben Ben Esifa in the process of exorcising witchcraft on the 19th of January, 2010 in their village Eyokponnang village, Udung Uko L.G.A. There is also the case of one Inyene Monday Ekaidem of Ikot Ntuk Village in Oruk Anam L.G.A who allegedly murdered Madam Doette Akpan Ekaidem (50years) and Mfon Akpan Ekaidem (30years) and setting ablaze their properties.

My interaction with the Police Public Relations Officer Akwa Ibom State ASP Gabriel E. Ngban and the officer in charge of the Homicide department of the police command revealed that the suspects confessed to the crime. I also had the opportunity of interacting with them in their cell.
I found out from reliable police sources that, many other alleged witch-hunters and their accomplices were arrested but released after an illegal bargain was struck with the police. I am specifically disturbed that since the arrest of these suspects, the police has not conducted an autopsy to enable them corroborate the suspects confessional statements. I found out that the relations and church members of the prophet are committed to getting their prophet off the hook and are only waiting for an opportunity to do so.

I will be meeting with the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State on the 24th of February, 2010 to discuss the prosecution of these criminals as soon as the police are done with their investigation.

Barr. James Ibor Esq., counsel to the SSNUK/YHN/CRARN/BRC P4D Project