‘The children are not safe here’: the Nigerian couple fighting infanticide
Esther Stevens' life began in tragedy. Born in 2007 in a village near Abuja, Nigeria's capital, her mother died during childbirth, and some villagers believed the baby was cursed. According to tradition, the only solution was to bury the child with their mother. A Nigerian missionary intervened, saving Esther's life and placing her in the care of Olusola and Chinwe Stevens, a Christian couple who ran a children's home.
In Nigeria, children are often seen as gifts from God or the spirit world, but some traditional beliefs hold that certain children bring misfortune. Children with albinism, visible deformities, or disabilities were once thought to be cursed or omens from ancestors or deities. In parts of southern Nigeria, particularly among the Igbo, twins and triplets were feared. These beliefs, though fading, persist in isolated areas.
The Stevens couple, who founded the Vine Heritage Home Foundation in 2004, have been combating these practices since 1996. They discovered that some children were still being killed through poisoning, abandonment, or burial alive. Their home now shelters over 200 children, many of whom were rescued from infanticide.
Many children in Vine Heritage were born to mothers who died in childbirth, a fate that affects 75% of the children, according to Olusola. Nigeria's high maternal mortality rate, with one in every 100 women dying during childbirth, is a stark reality. The Stevens couple works closely with missionaries and local leaders to prevent infanticide and protect vulnerable children.
One of their contacts, missionary Andrew Tonak, describes Chinwe as a compassionate and generous leader whose influence has touched countless lives. Tonak has been living in Kaida village, about 40 miles west of Abuja, since 2000, and has rescued 20 children from the village and neighboring communities.
The Stevens couple's efforts have led to the rescue of many children, including those with physical disabilities or severe malnutrition. They work with local missionaries and community health workers to prevent harm and provide medical attention.
However, the struggle to protect children from infanticide continues. Community members are reluctant to speak openly due to fear of stigma, distrust of outsiders, or cultural taboos. The decision to kill children is often made by family elders and traditional religious leaders, with patriarchy playing a role in women's decisions to surrender their babies.
The Stevens couple's work has faced skepticism and denial from government officials, who initially accused them of spreading falsehoods to attract attention and donations. Yet, after being shown evidence, the government commissioned them to run awareness campaigns in affected communities.
ActionAid, in partnership with the Stevens, has made progress by focusing on community development, livelihoods, education, hygiene, and healthcare. Their efforts have led to the stopping of killings in four communities and the return of children to their families. However, resistance from influential elders persists, and funding shortfalls have left much work unfinished.
The Stevens couple's vision includes reintegrating children into their communities, but this is a challenging process. Many rural communities speak local languages that outsiders struggle to understand, and education levels vary significantly. Children must adapt to rural life, fetching water and enduring the curiosity of villagers.
The couple typically waits until children are old enough to understand before revealing their past. Reintegration is not always smooth, and some children, like Godiya, have struggled with the contrast between urban and rural life. The Stevens couple continues to work with missionaries and local leaders to protect children and combat infanticide.
Despite the challenges, the Stevens couple remains committed to their mission. They believe their family-first approach has saved lives and nurtured emotional bonds among the children. However, the future of Vine Heritage is uncertain, as the original vision of reintegrating children into their communities appears to have faltered, leading to the home's continued growth.
