The little boy left to die by his parents… because they thought he was a witch: Heartbreaking image of toddler starving on the street shocked the world – but some stories do have a happy ending

Nearly ten years after it shocked the world, the heartbreaking image of a starving little boy on the side of the road in a Nigerian town, still packs the same devastating punch.

The boy, later named Hope, had been left emaciated and naked on the streets of Akwa Ibom, Nigeria and was only rescued from near certain death when a charity volunteer spotted his skeletal figure.

In the photo Hope is seen desperately suckling from a plastic bottle, almost half his size, as he is fed water by the volunteer.

Clutched in his hand, is his only possession, a small raggedy doll – a reminder of a childhood stolen from him.

Hope was cast out of his family home and village by his own parents when he was just three years old and left to fend for himself on the streets, surviving off scraps.

When volunteers of the charity Land of Hope eventually found the child crouched by the end of a roadside he weighed just 7lb.

After an investigation, they uncovered the horrific and depraved reason his parents had cast him out: they were convinced their own son was a witch possessed by the devil.

The practice, is sadly one that is all too prevalent in some quarters of the world today – and it has began to appear in the UK too.

Officials say the problem – long associated with some African and Asian diaspora communities but which is not confined to one faith, nationality or ethnic group – is widely thought to be under-reported.

Disabled children, twins and those with epilepsy, autism or even minor behavioural problems have historically been more vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft.

This week, the Daily Mail can reveal the number of children in England suspected of being abused because of witchcraft, sorcery and black magic beliefs has surged to its highest level on record.

Official figures show 2,180 children were identified as potential victims of abuse linked to faith or belief last year- a rise from 2,140 in 2023 and 1,960 in 2022.

The disturbing figure represents a 49 per cent increase on 2017, when 1,460 suspected victims were identified by social services.

After Hope’s horrific ordeal he spent three months in hospital recovering from severe malnourishment under the care of his rescuer, Land of Hope founder Anja Rinngren Loven, 47.
The good Samaritan told The Mirror when she first saw the child she thought he was too malnourished to be saved.

She explained: ‘When we got to this little boy, he was smelling of death. I thought he would die in my arms. We don’t know how he pulled through, but he did.’

But survive and thrive he did.

Today Hope is 12-years-old and has just graduated primary school to the delight of Anja and her partner David Emmanuel Umem, 35.

Hope is deaf and communicates through writing but has big dreams for his future and is referred to as ‘Little Picasso’ by his teachers at his orphanage as he wants to have a career in the arts.

‘He is now very independent, strong and intelligent – and has lots of friends. I am so proud he graduated [school] – and he was so full of pride too’, added Anja.

‘The reality is councils receive around 1,700 referrals to children’s social care services every day, and continue to face mounting pressures providing support to children and young people.

‘It is vital children’s services are adequately funded in the Autumn Budget so that councils have the resources to invest in early help and intervention, to prevent children reaching crisis point.’

Professor Charlotte Baker, of Lancaster University, said: ‘Abuse linked to faith or belief occurs across the United Kingdom, often targeting children or vulnerable individuals and may result in physical, emotional, or psychological harm.

‘These abuses include spirit possession, witchcraft, ritualistic abuse, and related harmful practices, which occur in many parts of the world today.

‘These types of abuse are very difficult to detect and address, and efforts have gone into improving understanding among those who may come across victims of these abuses in their work.’

Colleague Leethan Bartholemow, of theInternational Network Against Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Attacks, added: ‘It is much more of a problem then we recognise that it is.

‘There is much more work that needs to be done.’