A Nigerian woman named Miriam has graduated from Akwa Ibom State University, marking a remarkable turnaround 11 years after she was accused of witchcraft and nearly killed by villagers. The inspiring achievement was shared in a Facebook post on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, by Danish aid worker Anja Ringgren Lovén, who rescued Miriam.
Lovén recalled that she and a member of her team found Miriam hiding in a bush after locals accused her of being a witch and attempted to kill her. The rescue was filmed for a documentary aired on Danish national television in 2016.
Miriam's Ordeal
Miriam recounted witnessing the deaths of two friends who were also branded as witches. One was burned alive, and another had a rope tied around his neck and was strangled. The trauma left Miriam unable to speak for a long period after her rescue.
In her post, Lovén wrote: "11 years ago Land of Hope’s Director of Child Development Nsidibe Orok and I drove out alone to a local village. We received a tip that a young girl was in danger. She was accused of being a witch, and some locals wanted to kill her. When we arrived, we immediately felt hostility. We found the young girl, and she showed us where she was hiding in the bush."
Lovén continued: "Orok and I drove Miriam to Land of Hope. While driving, the locals started running after the car and screamed they would kill all of us. We did not have police protection back then. We drove faster and escaped the dangerous situation."
Celebration of Achievement
Eleven years after her rescue, Miriam was celebrated at the convocation ceremony of Akwa Ibom State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and International Relations. Lovén expressed her pride, saying: "Congratulations to my strong and beautiful daughter! You faced so much evil, but love conquers all! #childrennotwitches."
