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| Helen Ukpabio |
Popular
preacher, Helen Ukpabio is back in her comfort zone- web of controversy.
The controversial witch hunter is labelled facing international ban over
proclamations that put youngsters at risk abroad while on international tour.
The once upon a time darling of nigerian softsell journals is said to have
proclaimed children less that two years old that cry at
that as 'servant of satan'. Parents and
association concerned with the threat pose by the sweeping generalisation
have taken her hope- clamouring for shut down of her visit centres and gag on
her utterances, with outright ban.
Ukpabio currently on tour of the U.K is said to have been forced to cancel
some three public visitations- and embrace private visits.
Here is a more detailed report of the raging development as reported by
mailonline.
Nigerian 'witch-hunter' who claims any child who cries is a 'servant of
Satan' could be banned from the UK over fears she is a risk to youngsters
...Helen Ukpabio founded controversial Liberty
Foundation Gospel Ministries
...The
preacher claims to offer help to those who are under 'witchcraft attack'
...Campaigners
say her witchcraft beliefs are 'harmful to the public good'
...They
have written to the Home Secretary to request she is banned from UK
A Nigerian ‘witch-hunter’ who claims any child who cries is a ‘servant of
Satan’ could be banned from the UK following calls to Home Secretary Theresa
May that she is a risk to youngsters.
Campaigners
are urging for Helen Ukpabio, known as ‘Lady Apostle’, to be deported and
banned from returning to the UK on the grounds her preaches are harmful to
the public.
The
born-again Christian Pentecostal preacher, who founded the controversial
African Evangelical franchise Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries in
Nigeria, is thought to currently be in the UK.
It understood she flew into London where she has been holding a number of
church services to promote her belief in witchcraft and offer help to those
‘under threat’ from the wizardry.
A poster
advertising one of Ms Ukpabio’s most recent talks – which was cancelled after
the venue was leaked online – claims to offer help to people who are under
‘witchcraft attack, ancestral spirit attack or mermaid spirit attack’ and
claims to help ‘disconnect' them.
However,
campaigners have warned her controversial views are dangerous to children –
including the belief that ‘if a child under the age of two screams in the
night, cries and is always feverish with deteriorating health, he or she is a
servant of Satan’.
The Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN), the Bar Human
Rights Committee of England and Wales and the International Humanist and
Ethical Union (IHEU) have now written to the Home Secretary in an attempt to
get Ms Ukpabio deported under the Immigration Act 1971 - on the grounds her
presence here is not conducive to the public good.
In a
letter to Ms May, the campaigners warn: ‘Whilst the Government has moved
swiftly to block entry to the UK for Islamic preachers whose presence is
considered as harmful to the public good, there have been no cases of
Christian pastors facing such measures.’
The groups are hoping the pastor will be banned from returning to the UK once
she has completed her final tour.
Gary
Foxcroft, of the WHRIN said Ms Ukpabio was one of a number of preachers who
regularly travelled to the UK.
He told
the Independent: ‘The fundamental problem is that churches need to be
regulated. Anyone can set up a church tomorrow in their own garden shed with
no commitment to child protection or making their accounts transparent or any
theological training.’
Bob
Churchill, of the IHEU, also told the newspaper: ‘It is important that the UK
authorities send a message to the world that branding children, or anyone, as
a witch is beyond the pale.’
HELEN
UKPABIO AND THE LIBERTY FOUNDATION GOSPEL MINISTRIES
‘Lady
Apostle’ Helen Ukpabio is the founder of the controversial African
Evangelical franchise Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries in Cross River
State, Nigeria.
The
Christian fundamentalist and a Biblical literalist founded the church in 1992
and now claims to have 150 branches worldwide.
With its
headquarters in Calabar in Southern Nigeria, the Liberty Gospel Church has
grown to be a witch hunting church with branches in Nigeria and overseas.
Ms
Ukpabio founded the church to fulfil her ‘mission’ of delivering people from
witchcraft attack and organises deliverance sessions where she identifies and
exorcises people, mainly children, of witchcraft.
The
born-again Christian Pentecostal preacher claims to have the power to
identify and exorcise ‘witch children’ who are possessed by the devil.
She uses
her sermons to incite hatred, intolerance and persecution of alleged witches
and wizards.
Her
supporters, of which there are many in West Africa, believe she is a servant
of God who has helped eradicate spiritual ailments from humankind.
Her
beliefs – promoted through her publications (Unveiling the Mysteries of
Witchcraft), films (End of the Wicked) and sermons - fuel witchcraft
accusations against children in the region.
In some
of the poorest parts of Nigeria, thousands of children are being blamed for
catastrophes, death, famine and branded witches.
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