A 76-year-old Traditional Birth Attendance (TBA), Mrs Affiong Abritam has been banished from her community in Cross River State over alleged witchcraft.
CONVERSEER gathered that Abritam who hails and practices TBA in Isong-Inyang community in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the State was threatened by the community and members of her family as they accused her of being a witch.
She said they tried to kill her before eventually throwing her out of her property over a crime she knows nothing about.
Abritam who spoke through an interpreter told CrossRiverWatch that the trouble started in 2020 when she lost her mum, a sibling, and her son within a short period.
She said “The Chiefs and everyone accused me of being responsible for their death”, adding that she was dragged to the forest, beaten with a machete, and was threatened to confess to being a witch or she will be killed.
The TBA who has five children said her life has been turned upside down as “I have been driven out of my properties, and I cannot work because of the stigma.”
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The 76-year-old said she still fears for her life even though she has left the community. “Recently, one of my relatives whose wife is pregnant came threatening me with a machete. He said he will kill me if anything happens to his wife”, she fumed.
She said some of her children have sided with her relatives, adding that she has spent all her savings trying to beat the accusation. “When I am dragged before the community, I was asked to buy drinks, goats, and sometimes even bring money. I have lost count of the number of times I have paid just for me to get my life back”, she cried.
CONVERSEER further learned that the only child who is standing behind her has been driven away from the village and now lives in Calabar, the State capital.
Grace being on Abritam’s side, she was rescued by the Akamkpa Local Government Chairperson of the Child Protection Network (CPN), Ms Ege Ebe Ukara, with support from the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) and the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW).
Abritam said she has handed her accusers to the “hand of God” and that “God will judge them accordingly”.
The focal person of AfAW, Leo Igwe said that the belief in witches is rooted in fear, and has been used to settle personal scores. “If you have something that I want and I don’t know how to get it, by simply accusing you of being a witch, the community will bounce on you. no questions asked”, he said.
CONVERSEER had earlier reported that the Nigeria Police in October rescued three as 15 were marked for death, and 5 were killed and buried in the evil forest over alleged witchcraft in Odukpani Local Government of the State.
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