Boy accused of witchcraft concludes UNIUYO programme

Abasifreke Akpan

By Etim Ekpimah

One of the children saved from witchcraft stigmatisation in Akwa Ibom State, Abasifreke Akpan, has completed a pre-degree programme in Physics at the University of Uyo.

Akpan was stigmatised and driven out of home by his father following complaints by a pastor and stepmother that he possessed witchcraftn powers, having been initiated by a schoolmate.
He was rescued by Humanist Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advancement/Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network from a Mobil filling station in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
It was learnt that Akpan was reunited with his uncle (who accepted him) on August 19, 2011 and has been living with him since then with support from HAPSTA/CRARN.
The Projects Director, HAPSTA, Dr. Yemi Ademowo, said this in Eket on Monday after meeting with some of the reunified children living in Eket, Oron, Ikot-Abasi and environs with a view to monitoring the reunification process.
“Part of HAPSTA’s work is to follow-up (or monitor) the alleged child-witches who have been reunited with their parents/guardians after series of counseling sessions and signing of binding documents in line with Child Rights Act of 2008, which prescribes 14 years jail term for stigmatisers.
“The meeting had in attendance three of our reunified children (The Champions) who had once lived at the HAPSTA/CRARN Centre for four to six years, but are now reunified,” he said.
The Programme Manager of HAPSTA, Mr. Ayobami Ojedokun, said Akpan was one of the HAPSTA/CRARN children who got support from HAPSTA/CRARN to write Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Ojedokun added that Akpan’s father died while he was still stigmatised and that the only person that was available was his uncle, with whom the organisation reunited him.
He said the other children included Eno-Abasi Charles and Utomobong Sam, adding that Charles, 20 years old, was a former CRARN child, who left the centre for her father, but now lives with her aged uncle.
He said, “She has received support from HAPSTA/CRARN. Sam is 20 years old and was a former CRARN child. He is presently in Senior Secondary School II.
“The centre has asked Sam to work with it on part-time basis with a view to saving for his education. We also have other rescued children who are seeking admission into higher institutions. There are some who avail themselves of evening vocational classes.”
Ojedokun said the three persons were being supported by Stigmatised Children Rights Project through the Human Etisk Forbund, Norway Funds.
The beneficiaries and the programme manager have, however, called for the extension of the programme.

Culled from Punch