Eket: In the southern Nigerian states of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, thousands of children have been accused of witchcraft in the past two decades. Despite laws meant to protect youngsters, the accusations continue and they often stem from family crises, poverty or the intervention of so-called exorcism services.

One young woman, who asked to be known as Faith, was labelled a witch by her aunt when the family business faltered and the uncle’s motorbike broke down. At 13 she was deprived of food for days and walked some 20 km to a shelter run by the organisation Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN). Today, at age 19, she studies Science Laboratory Technology at a polytechnic and hopes to train as a doctor.

CRARN estimates that more than 30,000 children in Nigeria have faced witchcraft accusations over the last 20 years. Even though both federal and state governments have laws against witchcraft-related child abuse, activists say many cases go unreported and perpetrators are rarely held to account.

Aid organisations including CRARN, Street Mentors Network and Way to the Nations are stepping in. They rescue children from abusive settings, provide shelter, education and skills training, and aim to reintegrate them into society. A programme manager at CRARN says: “If a child is accused of witchcraft they’re often beaten, abandoned and left to roam the streets. We rescue them and give them a chance to learn.”

In regions where Christian belief is strong but local traditional ideas about spirits run deep, accusations are most common. Evangelical pastors and witch doctors who claim to treat children for possession and charge for exorcisms are part of the problem.

Educators and aid workers say schooling and vocational training may be the greatest hope for change. One founder of Street Mentors Network puts it simply: when a child can read, write and think, they gain the power of choice.

Still, progress remains slow. Many children remain vulnerable and full accountability is rare. Bringing lasting change will require not only rescue and education, but also community awareness, stronger law enforcement and a shift in the beliefs that scapegoat children.