By Joe Udo
UYO (CONVERSEER) – This is the story of 22-year-old Ekong, who was accused of witchcraft at age 12, in a remote village in Akwa Ibom. 12 years later, he is now months away from becoming a mobile phone technician.
According to NigerDelta Insider, Ekong was rescued in 2013 by Danish humanitarian, Anja Ringgren Lovén and her Nigerian partner, David Emmanuel Umem. He was found alone in a bush, severely malnourished, half-naked, and suffering from infected wounds after being tortured and abandoned by his family and community.
“The villagers believed he was a witch, he was hiding for his life when David found him,” Lovén said.
Moved by his condition, Lovén took Ekong into her care and has raised him as her own child for the past 12 years.
Now approaching adulthood, Ekong is nearing the completion of a three-year internship as a mobile technician and dreams of opening his own electronics shop.
“He’s very talented and always working with his hands,” Lovén said. “He picks up discarded phones and devices and brings them back to life.”
Lovén, who has rescued dozens of children accused of witchcraft through her foundation, says Ekong’s story reflects the danger of harmful traditional beliefs still present in parts of Nigeria.
“Behind the horror of witch-branding lies talent, beauty, and potential,” she said. “Empathy is the most important quality of all. Without it, success means nothing.”
