The Rivers State command of the Nigeria Police Force has arrested a 41-year-old pastor, Ifediorah Onyeibor Joseph, over the alleged abuse and dehumanisation of more than 20 children during a church programme in Port Harcourt.
The incident came to light after a disturbing video, less than two minutes long, went viral online.
The clip seen by Naijaonpoint online showed several children, most of them unclad, kneeling on the floor, clutching palm leaves, while a man flogged them repeatedly with palm fronds.
The background narrator alleged that the children had been subjected to days of beatings and maltreatment.
“Only God knows if they kidnapped these children. There is blood in that basin. They flog these children, naked them… both boys and girls and this is Day 3. The other day, we couldn’t sleep in the night,” the voice in the recording said.
The narrator added, “The children are crying. They are beating them as you can see, and this has been going on for days now. The children have marks on their bodies.”
In the footage, a man could be seen tossing the children, one after the other, to a man and woman dressed in white, after whipping them.
‘Spiritual Cleaning’ Inspired By The Holy Spirit
Rivers police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday, saying the pastor had organised a three-day “spiritual cleaning” programme for the children.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that Pastor Ifediorah allegedly organised a 3-day programme for children in his Church, purportedly for ‘spiritual cleaning’, claiming to have been inspired by the Holy Spirit,” the statement read.
Iringe-Koko said operatives, acting on intelligence, stormed the church and arrested the pastor along with several church members.
The police said a thorough investigation is underway to determine the full circumstances of the incident.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, called for calm, assuring the public that justice would be served.
“The Commissioner of Police urges the public to remain calm and peaceful while the investigation is ongoing. He urges members of the public to report any suspicious activities or concerns to the nearest Police Station or other security agencies,” the statement added.
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