Abuse Angels...

Saving Africa's Witch Children

Recently showing on UK's Channel4 Dispatches programme was a film entitled:

Saving Africa's Witch Children.

The documentary focuses on the plight of many very young children in the Akwa Ibom State, Niger Delta, Nigeria.

These young children, labeled as witches and wizards by their church leaders, by so-called 'prophets' and 'prophetesses' are subjected to the most horrendous levels of physical abuse, torture, maiming and even death in many cases after being labeled such.

So-called self styled church leaders often kidnap the children, holding them to monetary ransom whilst carrying out the most horrific abuse, all in the name of Christ to cast out the 'demonic forces' within them, in many cases burning the children with acid, kerosene and fire.

To say this film is highly disturbing is a mild understatement.

Do NOT watch this documentary if you get upset easily.

It is 48 minutes long, it starts with 2 advertisements from Channel4, one ad runs for 30 seconds, the next one for 20 seconds, the documentary will then play automatically afterwards.

You can watch it here:

Dispatches - 4oD - Channel 4

Attention is particularly drawn to the work of one British gentleman, Gary Foxcroft (29), who founded the charity with his girlfriend...

Stepping Stones Nigeria - Welcome to the Stepping Stones Nigeria Site | Stepping Stones Nigeria

Their work in Akwa Ibom State is at CRARN - Child Rights and Rehabilitation Centre located in the Niger Delta, a safe refuge for a large number of kids that have been tortured due to these accusations.

The documentary itself is very sad, yet inspiring at the same time. As I said, just be warned that some viewers will find some scenes particularly upsetting.

There is a follow-up to this documentary also showing on Channel4 Dispatches, you can find out more information by visiting this link...

Dispatches Exclusive - Return to Africa's Witch Children:

Search - Channel 4

Carly Sawyer

Carly Sawyer was a beautiful little 5-year-old girl trapped in the middle of a bitter custody dispute. For 2 1/2 years, two families fought over the child…but, in the end, her father, 24-year-old Joshua Sawyer, was granted custody. Wednesday evening, paramedics were called to the Sawyer home on a report of an unresponsive child. There was little that could be done for her…Carly died on Thursday. Now Joshua and his second wife, 21-year-old Brandy Sawyer, are facing murder charges in the death of the little girl with the precious smile.

Joshua, Brandy, and Carly Sawyer

The M.E. determined the cause of death was blunt-force trauma…with contributing factors that included starvation, ligature restraint and medical neglect. Joshua was charged with second-degree murder and felony child neglect. Brandy was charged with first-degree murder and felony child neglect. There were two other children living in the home…it has not been determined if either of them have been abused or neglected.

There is a weird little twist to this tale–Brandy’s sister, Dana Browning, 19, was arrested in November on charges of concealing the birth of a child, failure to report a death and obstruction of justice. Dana is accused of putting her dead newborn girl in a plastic bag, and tossing it in the trash.

-dreamindemon.com

Alexis "Lexie" Agyepong-Glover

< P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt">Lexie was a 13 year old mentally disabled young lady, who was left to die in a shallow creek on a cold January day by her mother , Alfreedia Leona Gregg-Glover.

Gregg-Glover fabricated a story that Lexie had run away, and filed a police report.  She appealed to the public on television several times for help finding her daughter.  Then, we found out it was her who left Lexie to freeze in the woods,.  It was her that left this young lady to die a slow and painful death.  I can’t imagine the terror this poor child endured.  Even more unimaginable, this was not the first time the Prince William police had received reports of abuse, yet they failed to identify her as a suspect, and allowed her to petition the public for help.

So it seems, long before her mother failed her in the worst possible way, Prince William, VA police department and governmental agencies seem to have done the same.

Lexie was adopted.  She was placed into the home of a mad-woman.  One could say that the mother’s dementia was unforeseeable.  Ok, possible.  Next, there were several reports to police from neighbors and a school bus driver stating unimaginable acts of abuse, the most shocking of these, that Lexie being placed in the trunk of the car before her mother drove away.   These reports were never adequately followed up on. The PW police department is now trying to explain their way out of this, but their excuses will fall on deaf ears.  INEXCUSABLE!!!!

The ineptitude of Prince William county police and social services cost Lexie her life.  Those here to protect the most innocent amongst us failed to act, and even more disturbing, they seemingly failed to care about the fate of a mentally disabled young lady.  They took the words of Lexie’s mother as truth although Lexie herself described beatings she had received in the past.  Onr neighbor found her outside her home in freezing cold with few clothes on.  Lexie told them that her mother hit her in the head with a stick and forced her to earn food and clothing at home.  This was reported to police but Lexie was returned home to her mother the same day.

Interestingly enough, it took a public outcry for Prince William County to take a deeper look at how this case was handled (or should I say, mishandled).  Shame on you, Prince William County!

Rest in peace, Lexie.  God will not fail you as your mother and the others that claim to protect you did.

NOTE: The information posted here is based solely from newspaper reports on Lexie’s death and TV news broadcasts.  Ultimately, the trial of the mother and the review of the actions of the police and social services will reveal more details.  However, due to the obvious neglect in this case, it is reasonable to arrive at certain conclusions.  Perhaps if someone had been a critical thinker when Lexie was alive, her life could have been spared.  Therefore, I stand by the assertions in this story.  If edits are required in the future (which I doubt they will be), the story will be updated accordingly.

 

Vanyel Anderson Colbeth

3 month old Vanyel Anderson grew angel wings on 1/10/2008.

The cause of Vanyel’s death is still not officially known, however, the coroner has ruled out SIDS.  Even more compelling, the coroner found evidence of a “lethal event” shortly before her death.  The coroner found swelling on the brain and fractured ribs.  In a child of this age, such findings are consistent with child abuse.

The mother, Shanara Anderson, pleaded not guilty when her trial started in February 2009.  She claims that she doesn’t know what happened on that fateful day.  She originally asserted that her 2 year old could be to blame in the death, but later conceded this statement.  She went on to say that she wasn’t sure if she laid the baby down “hard or light” on the day she died.  Hmmm, Isn’t the logical answer always light, especially when a 3 month old is involved?

She claims that she found Vanyel in the bassinet, with a jacket draped over the bassinet, and little Vanyel was white and not breathing.  She then called 911 but Vanyel could not be saved.

Witnesses have also come forward saying that Anderson was not a good parent and had caused harm to the girl before, wrapping her so tightly in her blanket that she was clearly gasping for air.

Anderson had just moved from another town with Vanyel and another 2 year old child the day before Vanyel died.  A high school sweetheart proposed to her, and she packed up and moved in with him.   He claims to have seen the child breathing before leaving for work on that morning.

Hopefully the truth will come out at trial, and justice can be served for Angel Vanyel.  When you look at the evidence, it certainly looks like someone is to blame.  Rest in peace, sweet angel.