By Dooyum Dominic Ingye

On January 22, 2025, I returned from Yola, Adamawa State, where I attended a roundtable discussion on witchcraft hunts in the 21st century. The event, held on January 21, 2025, took place at the conference hall of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a newly commissioned and magnificent edifice. According to the Coordinator and staff of the Commission, it was not only the first event they had hosted since the building’s commissioning, but it also marked an unprecedented dialogue on an aspect of human rights violations that had never been previously discussed or deliberated upon at such a platform.

The roundtable discussion, which included an award ceremony, was sponsored by the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) in collaboration with the NHRC. Representing AfAW at this landmark event, I delivered a presentation that highlighted AfAW’s mission, objectives, and activities. This included documentation of witch hunts and superstitious beliefs, case interventions, strategies, impacts, achievements, and calls to action.

Dooyum Dominic Ingye and Grace Mamza

Prior to the event, AfAW had been working with the Coordinator of the NHRC Yola office, Mrs. Grace Mamza, to defend and support individuals accused of witchcraft in Adamawa State. Like Benue and Imo States, Adamawa has become a troubling hotspot for witchcraft accusations and persecution. According to findings by AfAW and the NHRC’s Senior Operations Manager, many people in Adamawa’s rural areas are subjected to witch hunts, yet these cases are rarely reported.

AfAW is currently managing three notable cases in Adamawa State. In the most prominent case, a woman with four children was accused by her husband’s second wife of using witchcraft to manipulate him. This accusation led to the tragic death of the woman’s daughter and her subsequent separation from her husband. AfAW has actively taken up her case, providing her with legal, economic, and psychological support. In another case, the National Director of AfAW, Dr. Leo Igwe, released a press statement condemning the acquittal of a suspect who had murdered an accused woman.

Recognizing the urgent need for action, AfAW organized the roundtable discussion to sensitize key stakeholders, including vigilance groups, police officers, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, religious leaders, community leaders, students, the press, and NHRC staff.

The program commenced with opening remarks by Grace Mamza, the NHRC Coordinator, who emphasized the Commission’s commitment to defending human rights, particularly those of women and children who are frequent victims of witch hunts. She expressed gratitude to AfAW for its collaborative efforts and pledged the Commission’s continued support in eradicating witch hunts in Adamawa State.

Although absent, Dr. Leo Igwe, the National Director of AfAW, shared a goodwill message that I presented on his behalf. In his message, Dr. Igwe underscored the alarming prevalence of witchcraft accusations and related violence in Adamawa, including recent cases of murder. He called on law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and the government to enforce legal protections for victims, ensure justice, and end impunity for perpetrators. He criticized delays in court processes and judicial failures in handling such cases. Dr. Igwe reaffirmed AfAW’s goal of ending witchcraft accusations and persecution in Nigeria by 2030 through advocacy, education, and enforcement, and he urged stakeholders to collaborate to achieve this critical mission.

In my presentation, I elaborated on the work of AfAW, founded by Dr. Leo Igwe, which is dedicated to eradicating human rights violations arising from witchcraft accusations across Africa. AfAW focuses on raising awareness, protecting victims, and promoting policy reforms to combat these abuses.

Witchcraft accusations often target vulnerable groups such as women, children, and individuals with disabilities, leading to brutal assaults, forced confessions, banishment, and even deaths.

I outlined various cases handled by AfAW to demonstrate the dangers of superstition and witch persecution. I explained how AfAW counters these practices through public sensitization campaigns, critical thinking workshops, case interventions, and collaborations with traditional, religious, and governmental stakeholders.Additionally, AfAW advocates for legislative reforms to criminalize harmful cultural practices.

I highlighted AfAW’s achievements, which include raising public awareness, resolving individual cases, and influencing policy. I emphasized that AfAW will continue to promote rational thinking, strengthen partnerships, and encourage community responsibility to end witch-hunting and protect human dignity. The presentation stimulated a robust discussion, with participants expressing strong support for AfAW’s mission. Many pledged to act as advocates against witch hunts in their communities.

A significant highlight of the event was the presentation of the Advocate of the Year Award to Grace Mamza. Each year, AfAW honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the campaign against witch hunts. In a society where witch hunts are often celebrated, it is essential to recognize and encourage those who actively condemn and combat such abuses. Grace Mamza was selected for her exceptional efforts, including her collaboration with AfAW to defend accused persons in Adamawa.

A few months earlier, in 2024, Ann Kyado received the award for her courageous work with AfAW in seeking justice for her father’s accusers, despite facing immense community pressure and threats. I had the honor of conferring the award, which included a financial token, on Mrs. Grace Mamza.

In my closing remarks, I reminded participants to fulfill their promises by acting as advocates against witch hunts in their communities. I encouraged them to challenge superstitious beliefs by asking probing questions and adopting logical or scientific approaches to problem-solving. As one participant noted, anyone could potentially be accused, underscoring the urgent need to eradicate witch hunts. I concluded by urging everyone to thrive in their efforts to protect human rights and dignity.

Ingye is the Program Manager,
Advocacy for Alleged Witches.

By Leo Igwe

An advocate has messaged the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, drawing attention to the activities of suspected ritualists in Asaba, the capital of Delta State. In the message, the advocate stated: “God saved me from another mourning this beautiful year. This morning, my late friend’s teenage daughter was dropped off at a salon near Midwifery Road by her aunt, who rushed to clean her church, House of the Rock. This happened before 7:00 a.m., the area was quiet, and shops were closed”.

After the drop-off, some people came in a car to the point where she was standing. The message continued: “As the aunt drove away, she, the girl, noticed a cream-colored Camry with a license plate starting with AYB. The Camry approached her, and a young man came out and ordered her inside. They took her phone, and power bank, the attachment that she wanted to use to make her hair. They also collected her ATM card and demanded her PIN ( she wisely gave the wrong one). They also questioned her about her virginity and abortion history. She told them she wasn’t a virgin and had done an abortion many times. Following her response, they drove to a point and pushed her out of the car, which was somewhere linking NTA Road”.

The lady approached some passersby, asking for assistance. Some ignored her, thinking she was mentally challenged. But she later met some people who were moved by her story and assisted her with some transportation fare. She returned home safely.

According to the advocate, the inquiry about her virginity made her suspect that these persons were ritualists. And they wanted to use her or her body parts for ritual sacrifice. She suspected that these ritualists wanted to collect her hymen for sacrifice, hence they asked her if she were a virgin. Some people believe that hymens from virgins have some magical potency and could yield money or wealth. There is no evidence for this belief. In the past, there have been cases where some ritualists stole female pants and sanitary pads.

On her Facebook page, the advocate warned the public: “Tell your daughters that they shouldn’t reveal their virginity to anyone if they are still intact. They are the targets of these bad guys .” By bad boys, she meant ritualists. At the end of her message, she said: “I pray for every girl’s safety; may none fall victim to ritualists. I pray for Asaba also. May evil be flushed out. And for these ritualists, hand go touch una this week”. Through this advocate, we got through to the victim, Ms A, a 17-year-old law student at a local university. She confirmed the incident. She said they collected her phone, ATM card, and hair attachment. The estimated total cost is four hundred and ten thousand naira(410,000 naira).

We advised Ms A to be more careful and vigilant. We urged her to stay strong and not to entertain fears or worries that some people would use her for some ritual sacrifice, especially, in this case, that they took her hair attachment. We made it clear to her that there is no potency in the ritual sacrifice of anything, human or animal. That even if someone did such a sacrifice, it would have no impact on her. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches will explore ways of further support for Ms. A. AfAW acknowledges that there are criminals who kidnap, murder, and attack persons for ritual purposes. Some individuals harvest human body parts, including private parts and breasts. Many people indulge in the sacrifice of humans or their human body parts, believing that such rituals would yield money, power, success, or prosperity.

However, the Advocacy for Alleged Witches declares that ritual money beliefs are forms of superstition. Ritual money claims are based on fear and ignorance. AfAW has reported this incident to the police and urges the public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious movement in their neighborhoods.

Let’s say no to ritual attacks and abuses. Let’s say no to superstitious belief in ritual money and sacrifice. Let’s leave superstitions and embrace science and critical thinking.

Igwe, PhD , directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches which campaigns against abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks.

By Leo Igwe

Someone sent me a horrific photo of a 12-year-old who was amputated in Gombe state. I was outraged and could not sleep. I have been unable to get this awful image off my mind. I am shocked beyond belief and comprehension that a human being could inflict such cruelty on another. I have been overwhelmed with two other projects to empower alleged witches and promote critical thinking in schools. I was not ready to embark on another project.

But when I saw the photo of Adamu yesterday, I could not ignore it. I had to do something because this case fit into the HELP idea. For some time I have had in mind a humanitarian program to support and care for victims of religious persecution, including alleged blasphemers, whether they are humanists or not. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches is an aspect of this project, the HELP program.

HELP stands for Humanist Enabling Love Project. HELP codifies my humanist sense of humanitarianism, that is, a care for humanity and nature rooted in the notion that this is the only life and world that we have and that we have to make the best of this life and this world for ourselves and for others.

Unlike the religious sense of humanitarianism that regards any care in this world as inferior to the eternal joy, love, and happiness in the hereafter, HELP does not have that baggage. Within the framework of HELP, the care that we give or get here, in this world, in the here and now, is all, that there is. Any other care beyond this life and world is illusory. It is merely fantasy, some superstition. So, in the quest to live the fullest, and to be the best, that we can, we must care to the fullest. We must care to the best that we can. This is the driving principle of HELP. It is help for humanity’s sake. It is doing good, for goodness sake.

I have been wrestling with the HELP idea for a while. So Adamu’s case presented an opportunity to test and translate the HELP principle into practice. So, I tried to read and understand the context of the incident, including what motivated this vicious act. Amputation of criminals is common in Northern Nigeria; amputation is sanctioned by sharia law, which is enforced in the region. So, how does one respond to this faith-based abuse without some pushback, beyond condemning this horrendous act?

According to the story, as published in the Punch, Adamu was amputated for allegedly stealing a phone. I mean: “Stealing a phone?”

The Nigerian Bar Association in Gombe is trying to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. Will they? The proposal to prosecute the offenders is a public relations gimmick. Nothing would eventually happen to the person(s) who committed this atrocity.

But different questions have been agitating my mind: How does this boy continue with his life? How does one ensure that Adamu gets back his ‘hands’? How can we get him prosthetic hands? How can we get him to use his ‘hands’ again, move things, and make calls?

Even if the government succeeded in prosecuting and jailing the amputators, that would not answer these questions. It will not restore Adamu’s hands. This boy needs his hands back, and we as a generation can make this happen.

It will not speak well of us that we turned a blind eye to this inhumane act, and refused to do something about it, when we can. To this end, I contacted the journalist from the Punch who covered the story, and he graciously shared contacts of Adamu’s family members. We are in touch with family at the moment. I have also contacted Handicap International and Humanity and Inclusion, US. I am waiting for their response. Another friend sent me the contact of a guy who produces prosthetics, that have melanin skin tone. I spoke with him, and he agreed to send me a quotation. I hope these moves would translate into the restoration of Adamu’s ‘hands’.

Let’s join hands and help Adamu have and use his ‘hands’ again. It is possible.

Igwe, PhD, is a humanist and lives in Ibadan.