Horror and Fear Associated with Current Methods of Exorcism among Pentecostals in Nigeria
In: Facing Our Darkness: Manifestations of Fear, Horror and TerrorSearch for other papers by Eunice I. Anyacho in
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Witchcraft and demon possession are receiving increased attention in the Nigerian Pentecostal Christian church. Some pupils, youths and elderly men and women have variously either been accused of witchcraft or demon possession. Failures in investment, examination and marriages, constant miscarriages, road accidents, premature death; in short anything evil, is attributed to witches or demons. Hardly are natural causes of failure recognised. A siege of fear is now hanging over many Nigerian families. Accusations of bewitchment are rife in many communities. This state of affairs gave rise to emergence of many exorcists among Pentecostal Christians in Nigeria who claim that they have ‘deliverance ministries’ specialised in casting out witches and demons. This chapter looks at the fear generated by the witchcraft and demon possession phenomena in the church, families, and society, at the experiences reported by victims of accusation of witchcraft and demon possession, as well as the methods employed by these exorcists in their craft. Flogging and maiming used by the exorcists together with the stigmatisation and ostracism used by the family and society against the accused also are investigated by the study. The chapter further highlights the distractive effects of the trend, the implications of the fear and suspicion generated by these exorcists on the peace, co-operation, unity of the family, and the implications on their Fundamental Human Rights.