Witchcraft In Nigeria-Social Work Perspective

Final Integrative PaperIntroductionWitchcraft allegations in Nigeria has become a prevalent and serious problem. Children are a majority of the victims due to the belief that they are capable of casting spells and can contaminate others. Once the children are possessed, they are stigmatized their entire life. This can occur in children as young as two years old. Children are labeled as a witch through the belief that a spiritual spell is given to a child through fruits, food, or drinks. A spell can also be cast on the children through the form of spirit while asleep. The process is described as their soul departing from the body to be initiated in a coven, a place where of witches and wizards are believed to be gathered. From there, the spiritual power will bring about untold destruction which can include killing uninitiated people and causing diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, hepatitis, typhoid and cancer. Cases like drunkenness, madness, smoking of marijuana, divorce, and infertility will be blamed on the child witches and are outcasted by their families, and entire communities. The children are subjected to neglect and severe brutality which can be performed through family members, the communities, as well as churches