The Child’s Right and Rehabilitation Network has rescued a 5-year-old boy who was allegedly tortured by his parents for being a wizard.
The boy identified as Victor Asuquo was found roaming the streets of Odoro Nkot in Esit Eket, Akwa Ibom with scars all over his battered body.
Narrating his ordeal, 5-year-old Victor Asuquo said his mother hit him with a machete several times and locked him up in a toilet after being accused of witchcraft.
He also claimed that his mother took him to different witch doctors and prayer houses for exorcism before abandoning him on the road at midnight.
He said he returned home but his stepmother warned him not to come into the house otherwise she will kill him, also stating that “My father doesn’t want to see me.”
He alleged that his father warned him not to infect his stepbrothers with witchcraft spells even when he had told him that he was not a wizard.
Victor was rescued by a community leader and Child’s Right And Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) volunteer, Prince John Ekpo, who took him to their house and met only his old blind grandmother, who was also stigmatized for allegedly being a witch.
CRARN further revealed that young Victor was taken to the hospital for treatment and surgery after his rescue on Monday, April 19.
