Saving The Child-Witches Of Nigeria

Innocent lives tragically snuffed out, families recklessly torn apart, beautiful hopes dashed on the rocks of blind allegations… Such is the case of many children in Nigeria and accross Africa falsely branded witches by crisis-ridden people desperately searching for scapegoats amid superstitious tendencies. The result is simply disastrous as young children barely able to reason for themselves are stigmatised and seperated from society – and in many cases, killed. But thank God, hope is rekindling for the rejected and dejected children, as Pastor TB Joshua is being used mightily by God to re-unite broken families, by unveiling the truth from God about the said accusations…

Here is one such case…

“She is the one that killed her mother! She caused my father a serious accident – they say she even attacks people in the dream. If she comes to church, they will send her away. The pastor called me and said if I keep her with me, she will destroy my family. She was born with witchcraft power – they said she cannot be delivered, that we should drive her out. If she’s going to die, let her die. It is better she dies before killing us…”

The accusations levelled against the meek 10 year old were both fierce and frequent. Labelled a symbol of satan, a societal scourge, an instigator of destruction and initiator of woe, her dark eyes filled with pain beyond her years. Despite her tender age, Favour Onyenwaku had been communally branded a witch. Before finally throwing her out of the house, Edward Jonathan and Amadi Kelechi, Favour’s uncle and cousin respectively, decided to bring the small girl from Anambra State to the famous Synagogue Church Of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria on a desperate mission to ascertain the truth from God.

The Child-Witches of Nigeria - isolated, rejected and neglected
The Child-Witches of Nigeria - isolated, rejected and neglected

Stigmatised from childhood as a witch and menace, Favour was brought up in the house of her auntie, her biological mother dying tragically seven days after birth. As she grew in stature, so did the stigma – and before long, the loathsome rumour had spread its tentacles throughout the neighbourhood, every ensuing mishap attracting her name as the prime suspect. The brazen confirmation of her witchcraft by various pastors and spiritualists further fuelled the revulsion and isolation to the point that Favour was thrown out of school and chased out of church, deserted by friends and denied by family. Uncommonly intelligent, Favour managed to return to school a week before her exams, achieving a remarkable 1st place position with a double promotion. The joy was short-lived as the community soon attributed her outstanding success to satanic sources. There were many attempted deliverances, yet with seemingly futile results, the pastors involved explaining that her case was beyond spiritual intervention since the evil powers were supposedly inborn. It seemed the only availing option was to send the little girl out to the face the perils of life without protection or provision.

TB Joshua with Favour and family
TB Joshua with Favour and family

Favour stood silently before the vast congregation of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations on Friday 28th August, T.B. Joshua looking keenly at her. It was The SCOAN monthly healing service, with over 20 000 watching the drama unfold with rapt attention. “You heard what they are saying? Are you a witch?” he asked softly. Favour looked up, emotionless. “I am not a witch.” The crowd gasped. “I did not kill my mother or cause anybody accident. I am a child of God!” She was bold and convincing, speaking with clarity and maturity far beyond her age. Praying for her momentarily, Joshua then smiled broadly. Turning to the congregation, he spoke authoritatively. “Favour is not a witch.” The crowd erupted, many unable to withhold their tears. The burden of a stigma too heavy for such young shoulders was finally lifted.

The Protesting 'Witches'...
The Protesting 'Witches'...

The following Sunday 30th August, Favour’s family recounted the sordid experience, thanking God for unveiling the truth. Leading the entire congregation in prayer on their knees for forgiveness for the heinous sin of calling one created in the image of God an image of satan, it was a time of sober and sombre reflection. The viewers watching worldwide on Emmanuel TV were touched by Favour’s harrowing experience, many calling throughout the service and pledging to financially sponsor Favour to any educational level she desired. TB Joshua explained the gift of God in Favour is what prompted satan’s attack, saying however that the experience served a purpose. “If gold must be gold, it must pass through the furnace,” he said, stating that Favour was a promised child with great potential. He said he would be ready to join the plethora of callers in sponsoring Favour to study abroad if she so desired, stating that she deserved the best.

A visibly thankful Favour testified in the church, drawing applause from the crowd for her prodigious intelligence. “I know that everything that happened to me serves a purpose. God is the One that brought us here. I thank God for making the whole world to know I am not a witch, and I have forgiven all those who accused me. I advise the whole world – if they call you a witch, just accept it – one day God will meet you and reveal the truth.” Africa News gathered that since then, Favour is being taken care of within The SCOAN premises.

In a similar event, a 10 year old boy named Victor Ivuogbe was abandoned at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations by his father following related allegations of witchcraft. Sleeping under a truck and begging for food for four days before being found, TB Joshua had earlier made a plea for his father to come and reconcile with the boy, emphasising that he was not a wizard as accused. Responding, the father, a pastor in the Assemblies of God church, came to The SCOAN, and publically reunited with his son, acknowledging his mistaken accusation. “If we make mistakes, as we all do – don’t run from God, run to Him,” said TB Joshua, encouraging the sober father. Charitable gifts of N800 000 and multiple bags of rice were also given out to widows and less privileged students in the action packed service.

Wild accusations...
Wild accusations...

The trend of children falsely accused of witchcraft and subsequently rejected and neglected is on an alarming increase within Nigeria, and indeed in different parts of Africa, people blindly looking for scapegoats when faced with crises of varying sorts. The issue recently attracted international outrage with the airing of a documentary on United Kingdom’s Channel 4 where a self-professed pastor from Akwa-Ibom State claimed to have killed over a hundred child-witches. Stepping Stones Nigeria, a UK based NGO set up to awaken awareness of the Nigerian child witches dilemma, identified religious profiteering, extreme poverty, disintegration of the extended family structure, ignorance, superstitious beliefs and broken marriages as the major causes of such irrational accusations.

In a nation where many religious leaders are shameless exploiting these superstitious beliefs for personal gain and fame, Pastor T.B. Joshua has carved a niche for himself in the areas of revelation and reconciliation. Families torn apart through such allegations of witchcraft are re-united on almost a weekly basis at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations as the truth from God is revealed regarding the said accusations. Many are financially supported thereafter on the road to rehabilitation and teams dispatched to the areas concerned to correct the wrong impression imposed on the accused.

SOURCE: Africa News, Modern Ghana, Ghana Nation

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5 Comments

  1. Long life the man of God Tb.Yeshua,
    I thank God for I am still alive to see and hear a man of God from above,you are the man that God mightly polished, purified,transformed exactly like Yeshua Himself.I see Yeshua in the land of Nigeria in His mighty power and all the glory in the highest. AMEN.
    Thank you for your compassion for the outcasted whom the people coined them as witches and wizards in ignorance.
    Northern Ethiopia has to repent too man of God because what they did to my jewish community there for centuries.I have forgiven them for the sake of my walk with the my Lord but that Jewish community which is in Israel is still under a curse.Even I myself need deliverance from that curse man of God please pray for me to see you soon by the help of God.
    Thank you man of God I love you very much
    Hamelmal from Canada

  2. message to t.v joshua god of man,by the word of god by god,god say to you take more time in this week praying and god needs to tell you one thing,close your door and listen what god say to you,od bless you ,seifu seyoum from asmara eritrea,

  3. God is good, He is wondeful.
    all the thinks off the world are in His hands
    I love Him
    Jesse

  4. Emmanuel! Thank you so very much Man of God for all that the Lord has invested in you in a manner you touch lives. I am really moved and know that I need to get out of my comfort zone and make effort to help others know how to help themselves. I am bringing you and all that you do before the Lord to bless you with wisdom and double-fold to remain a blessing to nation at large. Stay blessed and even more inspired to do good! Have a blessed week ahead…

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