Activists oppose church school due to its belief in witchcraft

11 November 2014 - 13:37 By Times LIVE
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The Bible. File photo
The Bible. File photo
Image: Gallo Images/Thinkstock

Winners' Chapel International, a Nigerian church that claims ill discipline is linked to witchcraft, wants to open a school in the UK.

According to the Osun Defender the proposed school is being opposed by human rights campaigners, and the National Secular Society.

Bishop David Oyedepo, the church's leader in Nigeria, has been caught on camera slapping a woman and accusing her of being a witch.

His son, David Oyedepo Jnr  is the pastor at WCI's European headquarters in Dartford,

Further the Nigerian branch of the school claims that 'As far as God is concerned, disobedience is as terrible as witchcraft.'

A growing problem

London is currently facing a growing problem with abuse related to witchcraft accusations.

In 2011, there were nine such cases, in 2012 there were 19, in 2013 the number rose to 24.

According to an earlier report on the BBC there have been 27 cases so far this year.

"A number of child killings have been linked to these beliefs, including the murder of Kristy Bamu, 15, who was tortured and drowned by his sister and her boyfriend in 2010; and the death of Victoria Climbie in 2000," the BBC reported.

"Children are being accused of witchcraft and they're being accused of being the source of all the evil that's taking place," Richard Hoskings, an independent investigator of ritualistic crimes said.

The profits of God

Saharareporters claims that Oyedepo senior was banned from entering the UK over alleged corruption in his church. 

The newspaper claims that the ban arose after Britain’s Charity Commission determined that monies donated to Bishop Oyedepo’s church for charitable purposes were funnelled to Nigeria to fund the preacher’s flamboyant lifestyle.

According to Zambia's The Post, religious leaders form a 'hidden pillar' for Africa's largest economy.

“They don’t submit accounts to anybody,” Bismarck Rewane, economist and CEO of Lagos consultancy Financial Derivatives. told the newspaper.

“At least six church leaders have private jets, so they have money. How much? No one really knows.”

Oyedepo had an estimated net worth of $150 million in 2011 according to the report.

 

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