The Forgotten Children: Ukeme & Faith

Once cradled in love, Ukeme and Faith were born into families that rejoiced at their arrival—welcomed with songs, prayers, and the warmth of community. Their births were celebrated with child dedications, surrounded by friends, relatives, and neighbors who saw promise in their eyes. But that promise was shattered. A trusted pulpit priest—once a symbol of spiritual guidance—branded them as witches. With that single denunciation, their lives unraveled. Families disowned them. Communities turned away. The streets became their refuge, and the woods their shelter. Society, gripped by fear and stigma, watched in silence. On the streets, they endured unimaginable hardship. Hunger gnawed at their bodies. Rejection eroded their spirits. The psychological trauma of abandonment and accusation left deep scars—scars that no child should bear. Their minds, once full of wonder, began to fracture under the weight of isolation and despair. And in the end, nature claimed them—not with peace, but with sorrow. They died not of illness, but of rejection. This is the fate of Nigeria’s stigmatized street children—cast out by fear, forgotten by society. Goodbye, Ukeme. Goodbye, Faith. You were loved once. You should have been loved always. Elizabeth Wilson-Itauma Chairperson/Co-Founder (CRARN) #stigma #stigmafree #children #childrensactivities #love #love #loveyou