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Despite Protest, Pastors, Choir Attend Conference On Witchcraft

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The International Conference on Witchcraft on Tuesday kicked off at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as scheduled, despite opposition to the conference from the Christian bodies.

It was gathered that the opening prayer for the conference was conducted by a Catholic priest, while the moderator was a cleric.

Music was also provided by the UNN Christ Chapel choir.

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The conference, organised by Prof. B.I.C Ijomah Centre for Policy Studies and Research, UNN, met stiff opposition and criticisms, but organisers rebuffed the calls to cancel the conference, and instead changed the initial theme: “Witchcraft, meanings, factors and practices,” to ”Dimensions of human behaviours.”

UNN management had directed the organisers to drop the initial theme of the conference on account of outcries from various christian bodies.

However, speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference holding at Nsukka main campus of UNN, the Director of the centre, Prof. Egodi Uchendu, regretted how ordinary academic conference was twisted to cause confusion by social media and other media platforms.

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“The casualty of this confusion went beyond being asked by UNN management to change title but also the withdrawal of our keynote speaker, Prof. David Ker.

“I am delighted that social media hyper on the conference didn’t deter participants and organisers from attending the conference, which is completely academic,” she said.

Prof. Damian Opata, in his paper titled “The wealthy are no witches: Towards an Epistemology and Ideology of Witchcraft among the Igbo of Nigeria,” explained that the way witchcraft was propagated and believed by some Nigerians had continued to kill the development of knowledge on the issue.

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“Some people have killed the initiative for creative indigenous thinking because of mere belief in witchcraft.

“Pastors, prophets, seers in the foreign religions and charismatic priests of variegated persuasions very frequently use perceived attacks by witches and wizards to put fear in the minds and hearts of their various congregations.”

Continuing, he said, “The truth is, for those who believe that witches and wizards exist, it exists for them; and those who believe it does not exist, it doesn’t exist.

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“What we are doing today is completely an academic conference; it’s unfortunate that some people tried on social media to give it  different interpretations.”

Head of Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the UNN, Prof. Peter-Jazzy Eze, who spoke on what he titled, “Which witch? What Anthropology knows of the Adult Bugbear,” explained that witchcraft did not exist but only existed in the mind of the people who believed in it.

Science and technology have overtaken the superstitious belief of witchcraft, which has no practical proof.”

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Eze said it was time Africa dropped the belief in witchcraft and embraced robust knowledge in science and technology, “the application of which is very practical and verifiable.”

“If Africans can fully embrace science and technology, in the next 50 years, there will be nothing like superstitious belief in witchcraft, ” he said.

PUNCH

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NAF Neutralizes Bandits At Turba Hill, Kachalla Dogo Sule Camps

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The Nigerian Air Force, (NAF, under the auspices of the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Sector 2, has neutralized armed banditry through the execution of two high-impact precision Air Interdiction (AI) missions.

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, said in a statement that the armed bandits met their Waterloo following credible, multi-source intelligence at Turba Hill and Kachalla Dogo Sule’s Camp, both in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The statement said the first strike targeted Turba Hill, a confirmed bandit hideout, adding that persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance revealed significant human activity and an operational zinc-roofed structure assessed to be central to the enclave’s activities.

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Post-strike battle damage assessment confirmed the complete destruction of the structure and the neutralization of several bandits.

“The second AI mission was conducted at Kachalla Dogo Sule’s Camp, a notorious bandit stronghold identified as a key IED manufacturing and operational hub. Intelligence had linked the camp to the planning and execution of recent IED attacks along the Dan Sadau–Magami axis,” the statement said.

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It added that the precision strike successfully engaged multiple active structures within the enclave, triggering intense fires that destroyed the facilities and neutralized several bandits, effectively crippling the group’s IED production and deployment capability.

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The operations, according to the statement, reaffirm the Nigerian Air Force’s unwavering commitment, working in close coordination with other components of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to deny criminal elements safe havens, degrade their combat effectiveness, and support ongoing joint efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North-West and the nation at large.

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Doris Ogala: How Pastor Chris Knelt Before Church, Begged For Forgiveness [Video]

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Pastor Chris Okafor, founder of Grace Nation Bible Ministry, has reportedly apologized and asked for forgiveness following allegations made against him by Nollywood actress Doris Ogala.

In a video shared on Facebook by Ogala on Sunday, the cleric was seen kneeling before members of his church as he expressed remorse over what he described as mistakes made in the past.

Recall that the Nollywood actress had called Chris Okafor out after he dumped her for another woman despite promising her marriage.

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READ ALSO:Court Frees Armed Robbery Suspect Over Absence Of Prosecution Witness

While maintaining that many of the allegations against him were untrue, Pastor Chris said he was apologizing to anyone who felt offended by his actions.

“I am not joining issues,” he said, referring specifically to Doris Ogala. “Mistakes have been made in the past, and I tender my apology to everybody. But everything that was said is not true. There are so many lies in most of the things that were said.”

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Despite disputing the claims, Pastor Chris reiterated his willingness to make amends, stating that he was ready to offer restitution to any woman he may have offended.

READ ALSO:Tinubu Reportedly Drops Nominees Displaying ‘Sense Of Entitlement’

To Doris Ogala, I will apologize, and I also apologize to everyone. I am ready to make a restitution to anyone and anybody, any lady, anywhere I’ve offended,” he said.

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The pastor acknowledged his imperfections and appealed to the congregation and the public for forgiveness and prayers, noting that he had experienced a “new beginning” following the influence of senior Christian leaders he described as “fathers of faith.”

I’m kneeling down before everyone and before the church. Forgive me. You can judge me. Pray for me,” he added.

Watch the video here

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Actress Doris Ogala Rejects Alleged $10,000 Settlement From Pastor Chris Okafor [VIDEO]

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Popular Nollywood actress, Doris Ogala, has rejected the $10,000 settlement from the founder of Grace Nation Bible Ministry, pastor Chris Okafor.

The actress made this known in a video made on Tuesday December 23 2025, and shared on her Instagram page Saturday morning.

Speaking in the video, Ogala stated that the clergy man brought the money as settlement and also begged her to publicly debunk everything she had said about him.

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While revealing the outcome of their table talks, she alleged that pastor Chris urged her to lie that she was sent by some pastors to lie against him.

READ ALSO:Tinubu Reportedly Drops Nominees Displaying ‘Sense Of Entitlement’

Chris, you’ve seen me finish ooo, honestly, you have seen me finish. This is $10,000, he gave me this $5,000 last night after we talked and he was pleading and all that. Then he gave me this $5,000 this afternoon.

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“This man is just mad. You can imagine this man wanted me to come and say that all the pastors or a few pastors
were the ones who sent me to come and fight him. I should put it on the pastors’ head, then I will come out and debunk everything that I have said. Come on, you want me to take a fool? After all that I have said?

“Chris, you see this money that you gave me, it will never be a transaction of anything in my life or transaction of any part of my body. I cancelled every evil altar that you are coming from. He that is in me and protecting me is greater. I deliberately collected this money to tell you that everything i have said is the truth. I’m not lying and I will never lie. Chris, I’m not as cheap as you are, ten thousand dollars is nothing to me, and I’m not blackmailing you but I wanted the world to see that you actually gave me money. Chris, I will not lie on any pastor or put it on any pastor’s head. So, this is the money he gave to me with the Zenith bank envelope just now. Today is 23 December 2025, and I’m making this video by 5;39 pm”, she stated.

READ ALSO:FG Declares Public Holidays For Christmas, New Year Celebrations

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According DAILY POST, the development came a few days after Doris Ogala disclosed that table talks and resolution is ongoing between them.

Recall that Doris called Chris Okafor out after he dumped her for another woman despite promising her marriage.

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