…UNICEF

concoctions are so unpalatable that vomiting would be a natural consequence, or that the insertion of herbal enema would cause a child to pass stool frequently.
6.3 Methods of Deliverance These methods were listed by respondents as methods of deliverance which they had either experiences or had heard of:
i) Forced confession Some of the parents in the study claimed that their children confessed willingly to them. However he children when asked privately explained that they were left with no option than to confess for fear of beatings and to avoid the ordeal of further questioning. These confessions are most times made under duress or even hypnosis. Questions are asked repeatedly if she/he is going to the witch world, this questioning may be accompanied by threats until the child succumbs. If the child says “yes” may be beaten. Over time the children may hallucinate.
ii) Prayer The deliverance prayer may go on for days, months or even years. During this time the person administering the deliverance sees visions. This may be accompanied by praise and worship. Part of the deliverance or exorcism may include “assignment” such as buying certain items such as oil and leaving them at a road junction. Informants referred to this as casting out, breaking the yoke or exorcism
iii) Fasting Children are not allowed to eat or drink for periods of up to a week. Fasting may be seven (7) days, one month, or may be repeatedly every Saturday. Fasting may mean abstaining from both food and water. The parent/s of the child is required to join in the fast. They are usually kept in the church premises, and therefore, this constitutes a form of starvation.
iv) Oil, salt water and other liquid concoctions
In the process olive oil or concoctions are given to them to drink. Oil is rubbed on their bodies, on heads, in mouth, eye, ear, all over body. The other method is squeezing water and drinking of fluid squeezed from mbritam a bitter plant.
Vomiting or defecating of any of these substances may be taken as proof that the deliverance has succeeded. Herbs are put in the in eyes or ears. “Holy water” and salt may also be used. Some of these concoctions are given in the form of an enema, which is a method commonly used by the medicine men.
v) Tying up or chaining
An example was shared by the respondents whereby Uduak Samson Eyo a 10 year girl was tied by the ankles and hung upside down for two days. When she was freed she escaped by running into a bush. This method may also involve the use of chains, blindfolding and being kept in dark room.
vi) Beating
Children may be beaten with the local stem-mbritam (see picture below). The use of a broom stick is also common. In the case of Michael Itah-Esan, he was flogged by a pastor of Jesus Revive Ministry. This left deep gashes in his body after which he was left in a bush to die. It was when people came to photograph the dead body that he was discovered to still be barely alive. (local plant mbritam-good at inflicting maximum pain)
vi) Hot poker up anus
An iron instrument or knife may be heated on the fire and inserted into the anus as a means of deliverance leaving behind serious burns.
vii) Torture by pouring Acid
One of the children at CRARN – Mary Sunday Dan, aged 9 years her own mother poured acid over her, after she was treated, a huge scar is testimony to the agony she could have gone through.
viii) Throwing in bush or abandoning in the market
I met two year old Emilia1 who was found wandering in the market for two days. She had been simply dumped in the market with no trace of who left her there. Abandonment may be preceded by isolation or locking up.
ix) Using a saw or knife
In the case of Jane Ikpezia, aged 8 years her mother used a saw and tried to saw off her head.2 Body marks and scarification are some times made and herbs inserted in the scars
x) Driving of nails into the head The internet report by journalists reported in the Guardian showed pictures of children who had nails driven into their heads and who ended up mentally ill, such a child exists at CRARN.
xi) Pouring of Petrol and setting ablaze
In the case of 10 year old Jeremiah Victor Friday, his own father poured petrol over him and struck a match and locked him in a room. He escaped by climbing out through the ceiling.
Case study 2
Two year old EMILIA was found wandering in the market for two days. She was simply dumped in the market with no trace of who left her there.
(Comfort Bassey) If child is not cleansed from the witchcraft, the child is given a local berry esire.This berry is known to be very poisonous. The belief is that if the child is not a witch, he/she will survive after ingesting the poisonous berry .The community comes out to grind the berry and to give it in a large quantity to the child.
xii) Burying alive There are reports of instances where a child has been buried up to the neck.
xii) Drinking of cement There are reports of children being asked to drink cement mixture so that they could die. Others means: Of the 50 pupils in the FGD at CRARN, 20 had been beaten in a church, 21 had oil poured over them and 23 had participated in fasting and prayer. 6.4 Stigma and discrimination/exclusion Stigma is the common thread that weaves through
As a result of these key findings the following recommendations are being proposed:
1. Locate, track, number and document all affected children.
2. National Protection Systems should be strengthened 1
3. Advocate for the immediate passing of child rights Act
4. Establish family courts and a task force to protect children
5. Establish an agency to regulate churches.
6. Prosecute offenders and perpetrators.
7. Strict regulation by the National Film Censors board.
8. Have programmes that will enhance social change2
9. Expand pubic enlightenment programmes especially at the grass root/community level.
10. Lobby for inclusion of child protection in the State schoolcurriculum in social or religious studies.
11. Harnessing the expertise of civil society and other partners such as Christian Association of Nigeria, political parties and oil companies.
12. Emphasise reintegration and reunification with families and communities for children already residing in shelters.
13. Provision of counselling centres for day case rather than residential centres
14. Invest in massive training of counsellors
15. Strengthen the protective role of families through promotion of parenting education.
16. Strengthen the protective role of communities through1non-coercive and non-judgemental approaches.