Witchdoctor arrested after admitting 110 child killings
Thursday, 04 Dec 2008 20:32
Nigerian witchdoctor arrested after claiming to kill 110 children
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A man who claimed to have killed 110 children be believed to be possessed by evil spirits in a documentary has been arrested in southeastern Nigeria.
Police believe the man, Bishop Sunday Ulup-Aya, was part of a child-trafficking ring. He was arrested with six other suspects.
He later appeared to retract his confession.
"I am not denying that I am a witchdoctor, but what I killed are witches in my patients with herbs, not children," Ulup-Aya said while in detention, according to Reuters.
According to reports, the investigators rescued two children when they searched his church.
Rights campaigners say some 'witchdoctors' in this superstitious region convince parents their children are possessed and demand money to perform exorcisms.
Some parents are persuaded to hand their children over to traffickers.
The documentary, Saving
Africa's Witch Children, aired last month on Channel 4.