All About Helen Ukpabio ‘The Children Witch Hunter’

Helen Ukpabio is a controversial Nigerian preacher, filmmaker, and author who gained notoriety for her outspoken views on witchcraft, particularly the harmful practice of accusing children of being witches. 

Her influence has sparked widespread debate, not only in Nigeria but internationally. Here’s a look at her life, teachings, and the controversy surrounding her actions.

The Rise of Helen Ukpabio

Helen Ukpabio is the founder of Liberty Gospel Church, a Pentecostal Christian church based in Nigeria. She is perhaps best known for her role in popularizing the belief that children, especially those who behave strangely or suffer from illness, can be possessed by evil spirits or witches. 

Ukpabio became a significant figure in Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, in the 1990s and early 2000s. She wrote and starred in films that depicted children being possessed by demons, with titles like End of the Wicked and The Church and Witchcraft. These films reinforced her views about witches and demons being widespread among children.

In her teachings, Ukpabio argued that children who showed signs of illness or acted out in ways that seemed unusual were often “servants of Satan.” For instance, she suggested that babies who cried frequently or children who were sick could be harboring evil spirits. Her message was alarming: children could be witches, and they needed to be identified and exorcised.

The witch-hunting movement

Ukpabio’s beliefs about children and witchcraft sparked a dangerous movement in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the southeastern regions of Cross River and Akwa Ibom. Many of her followers took her teachings to heart, leading to incidents of abuse, neglect, and violence against children accused of being witches. 

Children were often subjected to brutal exorcisms, beatings, starvation, and in some tragic cases, death. Parents, teachers, and even community leaders were influenced by Ukpabio’s message and actively sought to identify children as witches, believing they posed a threat to their families or communities.

The situation drew international attention, particularly after a 2008 documentary aired in the UK, titled Saving Africa’s Witch Children, which highlighted the horrifying effects of the witch-hunting craze. 

The documentary showed footage of children being abused and abandoned because they were accused of witchcraft, often by religious leaders like Ukpabio. The follow-up documentary in 2009 led the Nigerian government to make it illegal to accuse children of being witches.

Ukpabio’s response and legal Battle

Despite the growing condemnation of her teachings, Ukpabio refused to back down. She denied any responsibility for the abuse of children, claiming that her teachings were being misunderstood. 

When her actions were criticized, she accused Westerners of spiritual ignorance and racism. She argued that her African cultural beliefs were unfairly targeted while similar themes in Western media, like the Harry Potter books, were accepted without question.

In response to the international pressure, Ukpabio became more vocal. In 2009, a group of her followers, numbering over 150, disrupted a “Child Rights and Witchcraft” conference organized by human rights activists in Calabar, Nigeria. The protesters wore shirts with the Liberty Gospel Church logo and were reportedly trying to silence those who opposed Ukpabio’s views.

Helen Ukpabio also took legal action against the charity Stepping Stones Nigeria, which had worked to combat the witch-hunting practices she promoted. She filed a lawsuit, claiming that the charity violated her constitutional rights to religious freedom and sought 200 billion Naira in damages. The legal case garnered attention, but the allegations of child abuse and witch-hunting continued to overshadow her defense.

The ongoing Legacy

Despite the law changes and public outrage, Helen Ukpabio’s influence remains significant in certain parts of Nigeria. Her films continue to be popular, and her church still attracts followers who believe in her teachings. 

However, her legacy is deeply controversial. On one hand, she is seen by some as a powerful religious leader and a defender of African traditions. 

On the other hand, she is criticized for promoting harmful beliefs that have led to the abuse and death of innocent children.

Helen Ukpabio’s story is a reminder of how religious beliefs, when misinterpreted or manipulated, can lead to tragic consequences. While her teachings may be accepted by some, they have caused untold harm to vulnerable children, and her legacy will likely be debated for years to come.