Man Sets Son Ablaze Over Watchcraft
By Emma Una/Calabar
A middle aged man identified as Victor Friday Usuk of Afagha Uqua in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has set his 10-year-old son, Jeremiah Victor Usuk, ablaze for allegedly bewitching him. P.M.News gathered that the man poured petrol on his son, struck a match and set him ablaze after a prophetess in his church, Prophetess Grace, prophesied that his failure in business and joblessness were caused by his son.
Jeremiah, who sustained third degree burns and narrowly survived the trial by ordeal, is still nursing the severe injuries.
The boy told P.M.News that Prophetess Grace wanted to extract more “confession” from him by severely beating him in the presence of his father and mother.
The boy has a sister named Victoria, who was also accused of witchcraft. She was said to have been subjected to several hours of deliverance by the prophetess.
According to Mr. Usuk, the boy’s father, Jeremiah was too deep in the act “such that bringing him out of the witchcraft world required physical torture.”
On why Victoria was not set ablaze, Mr. Usuk said the girl is now certified free from witchcraft by Prophetess Grace after she had gone for deliverance in the church several times.
Jeremiah, a primary three pupil in Aunty Mercy Primary School, Afagha Ukwa, Akwa Ibom State, said: “If I were into witchcraft, I would have made sure everyone in the family becomes a member so that this torture will not take place.”
He said his problem started when his father’s business started collapsing. His father, he said, became withdrawn and when his offshore job was also taken and his vehicle broke down, he allegedly accused Jerry and Victoria as those responsible for his misfortune.
Reacting to the incident, Pastor of the church, Rev. Peters said he believes that witchcraft was responsible for the plight of Victor Usuk, but denied that his wife’s revelation made Victor to set his son ablaze.
“Society sometimes pretends that witchcraft does not exist but it is the cause of the problems of many people,” he said.
e-mail update to the above story (personal communication)
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CRARN: Rehabilitating and protecing the rights of a child
My name is Sam Ikpe-Itauma, I am the President of child’s Right and rehabilitation Network (CRARN). It pleases me to inform you that Jeremiah Victor Usuk has been reconciled with the parents.
He is comfortably living with his paretents and three sisters.Our visit to the family shows that Jerry has seen returned to School. Though The father has since repented of the witchcraft belief,ie does no longer believe in witchcraft, the mother is still holding strong to it.
Jerry is one of the 53 children (on record)that CRARN has reconciled with the families since 2003 when CRARN came on board. Yet the problem of street and witch children is still growing stronger every day every day in akwa Ibom state Nigeria, as there are more than 140 kids in the CRARN shelter now.
For comments, or help please, write to itaumason@yahoo.com or childsright1@yahoo.com Thanks Sam Ikpe-Itauma www.crarn.org
Comment by Sam Ikpe-Itauma — March 23, 2008 @ 9:46 am