— The heartbreaking link between ignorance, faith, and disability in Nigeria
A Nigerian mother has shared a heartbreaking story about how a supposed church “deliverance session” left her one-year-old son with cerebral palsy.
In a video currently circulating online, the woman, identified as Chidima, narrated that the incident occurred at her husband’s church during what began as a routine prayer session. According to her, the pastor suddenly declared that her son had a “big star” and was being “chained by the enemy.” He then insisted that a deliverance be conducted immediately.
During the process, the pastor reportedly turned the child upside down — a moment the mother described as the beginning of her ordeal. Soon after, her son began experiencing severe seizures, which later resulted in brain injury. Medical doctors would later diagnose the condition as cerebral palsy.
The distraught mother explained that caring for her son has been a constant struggle, one that has drained her emotionally, physically, and financially.
She added that her husband, who was a member of the same church, abandoned the family when their child turned two. The woman said she later learned that he had remarried and moved on with his life.
The video has continued to spark conversations online about harmful religious practices, child protection, and the urgent need for awareness on disability causes and care in Nigeria.
📹: TT / @ekaftv
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Inclusion Post’s Editorial Comment
At Inclusion Post, we believe stories like this highlight the urgent need for stronger public education and accountability within faith communities. Disability is not a curse, nor should children be subjected to harmful religious practices in the name of deliverance.
We call on religious leaders, parents, and policymakers to prioritize child safety, promote disability awareness, and uphold the rights and dignity of every child, with or without disability.
