Nigerian children branded as witches

Hundreds of children are being thrown out of their homes in the Niger Delta region and tortured for being "witches." The belief in witchcraft is not new in Nigeria, but children have never been the targets. Self-proclaimed pastors get paid for the extreme "exorcism" on the children. There is a huge number of fake evangelists that know very well that there is nothing wrong with the kids they brand. Some experts blame Christian extremism and polygamous rivalry for the child factor in witch-hunting. The kids are burned, starved, and beaten for no reason. Because Akwa Ibom civilians are ranked among Nigeria's poorest, they are easy to exploit. Special Programs like Children's Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) are trying there best to help save victims of these crimes.


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This relates to what we have been learning in class by connecting religion and the economy together. "Religion is the only industry we have in Akwa Ibom outside oil." People are faking religion and becoming self-proclaimed pastors in order to get money for torturing helpless children. "Some people are making brisk business out of defenceless children. It's greed, targeting fullible and susceptible rural people," said Aniekan Umanah. The society is unstable and violent, but changes are trying to be made to help the innocent children fighting for their rights for a normal life.


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Helicopter Attacks In Niger Delta

This article is about a helicopter that was attacked by Nigerian gunmen in southern Nigeria. The helicopter, carrying 11 Italian oil company passengers, reached its destination safely with only one person injured in the attack. MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) was responsible for this. They warned the oil industry would target their helicopters in the future as well. MEND continually attacks oil facilities in the Niger Delta in order to get a portion of the oil resources. Gunboats are also being used as a form of defense and violence. These attacks have caused the Nigerian daily oil production to drop .6 million barrels in the past three years.


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This article relates to what we have been learning in class by what social factors affect the economy. Because there have been so many violent crimes, oil production, which is the main source of wealth in the Niger Delta region, has slowed tremendously. This results in a poor economy, and not allowing the region to prosper as much as it should. Militiant groups, like MEND, cause problems in trying to take oil for themselves, going to dramatic measures. The society is too selfish and can't function correctly to provide a safe and stable economy.

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Securing the Niger Delta

The Niger Delta, Africa's largest gas and oil industry, has been filled with violence over the past three years. This violence has caused a decrease in Nigeria's oil production by 20%. Rebels are fighting for a greater share of the country's oil network and are going as far as murder and kidnapping. Recently, the Nigerian military has cracked down on violence, and reduced most crimes. Kidnappings are becoming rare, and hopefully, all threats to the oil industry will soon be eliminated, bringing the oil infrastructure back to normal.

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In Nigeria, the outbreak of crimes is lessening, bringing the uncontrollable violence to a stop. Previous crimes have slowed down the economy of the oil industry. The tighter and stricter military enforcement should help ease the insecurities. The fight for a share of the country’s natural resources is coming to an end, reducing civil unrest throughout Nigeria.

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