Cosmss Chukwu
Chiefs, traditional rulers, President Generals, PGs, village heads in rural communities have been called upon to stop abuses against alleged witches in their respective communities.
The Convener, Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Dr. Leo Igwe, made the appeal at a press briefing in Enugu on Thursday ahead of the commemoration of the 2026 World Day Against Witch Hunts coming up on August 10.
Igwe said that this year’s World Day Against Witch Hunts, has a theme: “Chiefs and Ending Witch Hunts in Communities.”
Addressing the press, Igwe said that the Advocacy for Alleged Witches is to draw attention to the role of chiefs, traditional rulers and other community heads in the campaign.
He posited that chiefs are aiding in the witch hunt in communities by encouraging attacks such as beating, stripping naked and other forms of violence and abuses against alleged witches.
He therefore sued community leaders to guard against instigating witch hunts in their respective areas.
The Convener, pointed out that there are no witches but people who are suffering from dementia or indulge in natural worship are tagged witches and face persecution in communities.
According to him, the Western countries like Scotland has outlawed attacks against alleged witches, and therefore urged community leaders in Nigeria, especially, Igboland to follow suit.
“AfAW urges chiefs to take urgent measures to end abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks in their constituencies.
“This call aligns with the 2021 UN resolution urging states to combat human rights violations perpetrated in the name of witchcraft or ritualistic beliefs.
“The month of August is set aside to highlight abuses, raise awareness and outline measures to address these violations,” he points out.
The Advocacy boss, pointed out that the organisation was founded in 2020 to end witch hunts in Africa, adding that, “the Advocacy for Alleged Witches is at the forefront of efforts to make witch hunts history, and realize a witch hunting free Africa. AfAW is currently prosecuting a decade of activism against witch hunts in Africa 2020 to 2030,” he said.
Igwe noted that witch hunting features in many community with force and ferocity, alleging that, “Chiefs are key actors in the field of witchcraft, and important stakeholders in ending the menace especially in rural areas.
“Chiefs, traditional rulers and community leaders are critical in the management of witchcraft accusations including the reinforcement, weakening and eradication of witch persecutions.
“In many cases, chiefs enable witch hunts because as traditional rulers and community leaders, chiefs are witch hunters. They engage in witch finding, and identification. Chiefs are involved in accusations of witchcraft or occult harm. They persecute persons accused of witchcraft.
“Chiefs preside over witch trials and banishment of alleged witches. Chiefs sanction and condone jungle justice and vigilantism for accused persons. They uphold witch hunts as a form of community service, as a part of the ‘tradition and culture’, rather than a heinous crime or a relic of human primitive and superstitious past.
“With this in mind, AfAW is using this year’s world day against witch hunts to rally all chiefs against witchcraft related abuse in Africa.
“As community leaders, all chiefs should be on board efforts to combat witch hunts and ritual attacks. All chiefs should rise to the challenge of ending witchcraft related abuses including stoning, burying alive and lynching alleged witches in the communities.
“All chiefs should know that witch hunting is unconstitutional and cannot be tolerated or justified as a form of African culture or tradition.
“All chiefs should become agents of positive and progressive change, and facilitate the eradication of witch persecution in communities. All chiefs should become advocates against witch persecution nationwide and continent wide,” he appealed.
