[Update10Jan-Protest and Fundraiser] Notorious Nigerian witch-hunter to preach in the US

By PAUL SIMS - NEW HUMANIST
Updated: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:03:19 UTC

[Update 10-Jan] - Protest and fundraiser
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stand-Against-Helen-Ukpabio/300276600023391?sk=wall
Fundraising website-
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/humanityagainsthate

The Nigerian humanist campaigner Leo Igwe has alerted us to the fact that Helen Ukpabio, one of the leading figures in the persecution of alleged "witches" in West Africa, is to preach in the United States in March.

Last year in New Humanist, Richard Wilson reported on the fight against African witch-hunts, which are often aimed at children, and he spoke to Igwe about the activities of Ukpabio's Liberty Gospel Church, which have included legal and physical intimidation of those campaigning against witch-hunts.

Now, Igwe is urging humanists to take note of Ukpabio's attempt to extend her ministry to the US, where she is scheduled to hold a 12-day "Marathon Deliverance" in Houston, Texas from 14-25 March. The poster offers the chance to "receive ... freedom from the Lord" from the following:

In bondage

Having bad dreams

Under witchcraft attack or oppression

Possessed by mermaid spirit or other evil spirits

Untimely deaths in family

Barren and in frequent miscarriges

Under health torture

Lack of promotion with slow progress

Unsuccessful life with disappointment

Financial impotency with difficulties

Facing victimization and lack of promotion

Stagnated life with failures

Chronic and incurable diseases?

In his message to us, Igwe writes of the importance of raising awareness of Ukpabio's work in the US:

Helen Ukpabio is a Christian fundamentalist and a Biblical literalist. She uses her sermons, teachings and prophetic declarations to incite hatred, intolerance and persecution of alleged witches and wizards. Ukpabio claims to be an ex-witch, initiated while she was a member of another local church, the Brotherhood of Cross and Star. She later founded the Liberty Gospel Church to fulfil her 'anointed mission' of delivering people from witchcraft attack. Ukpabio organises deliverance sessions where she identifies and exorcises people mainly children of witchcraft. Headquartered in Calabar in Southern Nigeria, the Liberty Gospel Church has grown to be a witch hunting church with branches in Nigeria and overseas.