( CNN ) -- Child witchcraft allegations are increasing in parts of Africa , as thousands of children have been attacked , beaten or killed , according to a new report . The accused children are mostly boys , ages 8 to 14 -- with orphans , street children , albinos , and disabled as the most at risk , said the United Nations Children 's Fund in its report . The accused children often suffer from extreme physical or psychological violence as a result of being branded a `` child witch , '' the report said . Exorcisms that include pouring petrol into children 's eyes or ears , and forcing them to swallow various substances have been reported by researchers as ways to `` cleanse '' the accused . The agency cites urbanization , poverty , conflict and the growing economic burden of raising children as some of the factors that contribute to the recent increase in accusations against already vulnerable children . Countries with the highest prevalence of child witchcraft accusations are : Angola , Benin , Cameroon , Central African Republic ( CAR ) , Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ) and Nigeria , the report said . The issue of child witches is a relatively recent phenomenon that dates back 10 to 20 years . Researchers say before this , women and the elderly were the ones most often accused .
Thousands of children have been beaten or killed , it says . Orphans , infants and the disabled are most at risk . Some exorcisms have included pouring water into the children 's mouths . It cites hunger and poverty among some factors .