Mayen Sunday-John left his two daughters at a center, as the church
and community children accused of being witches.
One morning in February last year it was too much for Mayen
Sunday-John. She decided to put an end to the situation with her two
daughters, the 30-year-old woman left the seven-year-Utit Ofon and Utibe of 10 months at a CRARN Centre (Child Rights and Rehabilitation
Network, which is supported by UNICEF).
Very recently, Mayen Sunday-John lost her husband, and shortly after
his death, the building where he worked, ravaged by a mysterious
brand.Mayen Sunday-John’s two daughters was allegedly hekseDet same
thing happened to Mayen Sunday-John’s small grocery store in Uquo in
Southern Nigeria. For the local church, it was clear who was behind: Mayen Sunday-John’s two daughters, who were alleged to be witches. And
it happens frequently in southern Nigeria, the local community believe
that it is the witch forces with the family’s own children behind when
a family affected by tragic events. The local church stood with the
solution – but Mayen Sunday-John could not afford to pay $ 100, which
was the price for the church rescued two children from their witch
powers. Outside the church cleansing the children were ostracized by
both family and community.
Was she insensitive to her youngest daughter?
The first child, Mayen Sunday-John brought to CRARN center, was the
little Utibe.
“I started with the smallest of them, because I lay sleepless at
night, and because the church had power over me with accusations
against my children. I was insensitive to my daughter,” she says.
“At the same time the community also excluded my daughters, but God
would never be happy if I had let them die,” sobs Mayen Sunday-John.
After almost half a year at the Centre , CRARN succeeded to reunite
the daughters with their mother. She regrets now that she left the
kids and swore that she would never see them again. “After barely a
half year at the Centre CRARN succeeded to reunite daughters with
their mother”
“I was misled by the church and the community, and I jumped on it
because I felt bad and nowhere to go. I regret it and hope my children
will forgive me,” says Mayen Sunday-John.
The small family has not been hit by an accident since reunification
in august last year. And this despite the fact that among the local
rumors that CRARN center has the ability to heal the children. The
Centre’s director, Sam Ikpe-Itauma, have a little more natural
explanation.
“We have no spiritual strength to do an exorcism on children who are
not witches in reality. We take care of the children who recover from
their trauma after a time,” says Sam Ikpe-Itauma.
Looks into the allegations
Today, Mayen Sunday-John looks behind the accusations of witchcraft.
“You start to believe in witches and wizards men when you do not have
any money. That is why the church has exploited people’s accidents,”
says Mayen Sunday-John.
Picture shows Sam Ikpe Itauma of CRARN revisiting the widow to offer
aids to her and her two kids.
– UNICEF Report
