By Biodun Busari 

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) has lauded the intervention of Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, in rescuing a 54-yar-old woman, Nneka Uzor accused of witchcraft by some people at the Umunankwo community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement released on Saturday by the AfAW Director, Dr Leo Igwe, Uzor was disgraced, tortured, and banished from her village, and collapsed afterwards, but the commissioner came to her rescue and reintegrated her into the community.

Igwe disclosed that the issue of Uzor was noticed on social media on April 30, 2023, as she was accused of spiritual ‘poisoning’ in the community.

The AfAw boss said it was Obinabo with the traditional ruler of Umunankwo, Igwe Igwe Fidelis Nsofor, and other community leaders to reconcile and reintegrate Ms Uzor with her family.

In the statement, “The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) commends local authorities for facilitating the reconciliation and reintegration of an alleged witch in Anambra state in Southern Nigeria. 

“A report from a media agency said that some family members banished a 54-year-old woman, Nneka Uzor, from the Umunankwo community in Ogbaru Local Government Area. In a video shared on social media, Nneka was, on April 30, 2023, accused of spiritual ‘poisoning’ in the community. 

“She was disgraced and banished from her village. In the course of the torture and banishment, the woman collapsed. The state commissioner for women and social welfare, Ify Obinabo, intervened and rescued the accused. She worked with the traditional ruler of Umunankwo, Igwe Igwe Fidelis Nsofor, and other community leaders to reconcile and reintegrate Ms Uzor with her family.”

It further said, “AfAW welcomes this development and the reunification of the accused with the family and community. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has proposed institutional synergy as key to combating abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs. 

“The successful reintegration of Ms. Uzor illustrates the effectiveness of institutional synergy in the campaign to end these horrific abuses. Witchcraft accusations and witch persecution are more frequent in rural communities where there is a limited presence of the state. In villages, the police posts are few and far apart. These police stations have few officers and lack equipment to enforce the law. It is imperative that the various agencies collaborate.

“Traditional chiefs, community heads, and vigilante groups preside over issues in rural communities and ensure order and security. Traditional authorities manage the communities based on customs and traditions, not state laws. 

“They yield to pressures from witchcraft accusers, and witch hunters, and other imputers of occult harm. In many cases, local chiefs allow witch persecution, or the banishment of the accused to avoid being attacked or killed by the village mob.”

The rights group stated some women are languishing in exile as a result of allegations of witchcraft levelled against them by their communities.

“AfAW salutes the commissioner for women and social welfare of Anambra state and the traditional ruler of Umunankwo for working together to ensure the safety and successful reintegration of the accused woman. Many alleged witches are languishing in exile. They are unable to return home or go back to their families and communities,” it added.