A 13-year-old girl in Akwa Ibom State was reportedly subjected to years of torture, starvation, and isolation by her mother, who allegedly believed she was possessed by a demon. The girl, identified as Mercy Effiong, was said to have been locked up in a dark toilet after a church prophet made the claim about her possession. This led to severe deprivation of food and nutrition, with the girl resorting to eating her own faeces to survive.
The Child’s Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) brought attention to the case, highlighting Mercy’s malnourished and emaciated state upon her rescue. The organization lamented the cruelty and stigma that children like Mercy face in the region.
The distressing story was accompanied by several photos depicting Mercy’s condition, as shared on the newsnownigeria.ng website.