NGO Rescues 8,000 Kids Labelled ‘Child Witches’ In Akwa Ibom

No fewer than 8,000 vulnerable youngsters, the majority of whom were classified as Witches and evicted from their homes by their parents and guardians, have been rehabilitated and re-united with their family.

The Child's Rights Rehabilitation Network (CRARN), Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom state, announced the achievement over the weekend, recalling that it was achieved between 2003 and 2023.

The President/Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, Mr Sam Itauma made the disclosure while briefing journalists as part of activity to mark the 20th anniversary celebration of the Centre in Eket on Sunday.

He explained that “the Centre had rehabilitated, reconciled, re-integrated and reunited a lot of vulnerable children back to the society,” lamenting that “a situation where the vulnerable children are labeled Child Witches, and Wizards, stigmatised and evicted from homes should be condemned and such parents or guardians investigated and prosecuted.”

“Our efforts have rehabilitated and provided support for more than 8,000 vulnerable children, who have either accessed support from us or rescued by our CRARN facility,” he stressed.

According to him, around 15 vulnerable children have graduated from tertiary institutions since then, including 20 from the College of Education, and 25 vulnerable children are now enrolled at various levels at various state institutions.

Itauma stated that he had been able to construct six facilities at the Centre, including a school - CRARN Academy - and asked for help from kind-hearted individuals, businesses, and organizations.

Itauma noted that he had been able to put six structures at the Centre including a school – CRARN Academy, and asked for support from good-spirited individuals, companies, Non governmental Organisations (NGOs) “to better the lots of the vulnerables in the society,” even as he commended the efforts of the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies “for being instrumental to the protection of the vulnerable children in the state.

Itauma listed the challenges facing children as sexual abuse, torture, and other forms of indignity, adding that education of the despondent youth remains the fulcrum of his reforms programs at the Centre, and requesting more assistance from civil society, organizations, and governments at all levels.