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.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated political scientist, public administrator and Federal Civil Service Commission Chairman Prof. Tunji Olaopa as he clocked the milestone 65 years on Friday, December 20, 2024.

In the president’s congratulatory message signed by his Special Adviser on
Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday, he lauded Olaopa as a reputable intellectual and advocate of public service reforms and institutional strengthening who rose to the zenith of his civil service career.

According to the statement, before Olaopa’s retirement, “he served as Permanent Secretary in various ministries before proceeding to establish the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy – ISGPP. He later lectured at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, near Jos.

“President Tinubu commends Prof. Olaopa for his contributions to nation-building through his engagement in public service and interventions and his scholarly contributions including numerous books and writings, which have helped shape public policy.

“The President charges Prof. Olaopa with instituting reforms that adequately position the service as the bedrock of purposeful administration and governance.

“President Tinubu extends his warmest wishes to the esteemed professor, hoping for many years of good health and meritorious service to the country.”