By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu, has said that the witchcraft accusations against children is a dangerous and criminal practice that continues in some Nigerian communities despite being outlawed.
This is also as he has described the recent visit of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) as a much-needed “wake-up call” on the lingering issue of children being branded as witches.
Speaking with journalists on the sideline after debriefing of the NHRC by the ACERWC delegation in the Commission’s head office in Abuja on Friday, Dr. Ojukwu praised the committee’s efforts, calling them “one of the foremost organs of the African Union doing marvelous work for the rights and welfare of children.”
He emphasized that the Committee’s visit aligned with the NHRC’s own mandate to promote and protect the rights of children and other vulnerable groups. “We have a full department focused solely on the rights of children. The Committee’s work is complementary to ours,” he said.
Addressing the issue of witchcraft accusations against children, Dr. Ojukwu called it a dangerous and criminal practice that continues in some Nigerian communities despite being outlawed. “Our laws are clear. The Child Rights Act and other state-level laws criminalize such harmful traditional practices,” he said. “Any attempt to label a child as a witch is a crime—and it often leads to even more severe violations like torture, abandonment, and homelessness.”
While acknowledging that Nigeria has enacted comprehensive child protection laws, he stressed the urgent need for effective enforcement. “The real challenge now is implementation. Laws on paper are not enough. Communities must see real action,” he said.
Dr. Ojukwu also called for stronger collaboration between government bodies, civil society organizations, and the NHRC to ensure children are protected at every level. “We need to build community-level structures, improve reporting, and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted. This is not just a legal issue—it’s a societal one,” he said.
He concluded by reaffirming the NHRC’s commitment to child protection and human rights, urging all stakeholders to work together to end these harmful practices and ensure that no child is left behind.
Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary of ACERWC, Dr. Ayelew Getachew Asefa praised Nigeria for allowing the fact-finding mission on child rights violations, specifically concerning children accused of witchcraft.
Dr. Ayalew described Nigeria’s authorization of the investigation as a significant gesture of transparency and commitment to child protection. “The fact that the State Party has authorized this mission speaks volumes about its willingness to collaborate with the African Committee to strengthen the child protection systems already in place,” he said.
Precise Post recalls that the mission, conducted over five days, followed a formal communication submitted to the Committee alleging serious child rights abuses in several Nigerian states. While the team held meetings with government agencies and stakeholders, it also met with civil society groups, some without government representatives present.
Dr. Ayalew emphasized that the findings presented at the briefing were preliminary and did not represent the final outcome of the investigation. “This is a narrative report, an account of what has transpired over the past few days. The final findings will be presented during the Committee’s 46th Ordinary Session,” he clarified.
He reiterated the Committee’s accountability to the Nigerian government, recognizing the state as the ultimate custodian of its children. “At the end of the day, it is the Federal Republic of Nigeria that bears the primary responsibility to protect its children. Our role is to support and report,” he said.
