The Rivers State Police Command says its operatives have arrested the Pastor of a new generation church for allegedly manhandling about 20 children in the name of spiritual cleansing in Emeka community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The children, all completely naked, aged between five and nine years, were said to have been brought to the pastor during a three-day deliverance programme.
In a viral video, the Pastor identified as Ifediorah Joseph was seen by our correspondent using palm fronds to whip each of the minors severely on their heads and other parts of the body.
During the flogging spree, the children groaned in pain and cried for help, but the cleric continued whipping them and afterwards grabbed each by one hand and threw them like a piece of trash to one of his members, who caught them in the air.
After catching the children, he places all those who have been supposedly ‘cleansed on one side and waits for the others until the process is complete.
Our correspondent also reports that one of the parents who surfaced on hearing the wailing of their youngsters was rebuked and chased back by the pastor for attempting to disrupt the cleansing process.
It was gathered that stripping the minors was part of the cleansing procedure before taking them through the rest of the painful procedure, which takes about one minute for each child.
The State Police, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the pastor claimed he was led by the Holy Spirit to carry out the deliverance.
Iringe-Koko further said that acting on credible intelligence, operatives stormed the Church, arrested the 41-year-old Pastor, several members, and rescued the children number about 20.
The police statement was titled “Arrest of Pastor and Rescue of Victims in Connection with Minors’ Dehumanization’.
The statement read, “The Rivers State Police Command has taken swift action in response to a distressing online video, circulating on social media, depicting the dehumanization of minors within a Church setting, where the presiding Pastor, Pastor Ifediorah Onyeibor Joseph, ‘m’ aged 41, has been arrested in connection with the incident.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that Pastor Ifediorah allegedly organized a 3-day program for children in his Church, purportedly for “spiritual cleaning,” claiming to have been inspired by the Holy Spirit.
“Upon receiving this information, Operatives from the Rivers State Police Command through coordinated intelligence, arrested the pastor and several Church members at the scene.
“A thorough investigation is currently underway to unravel the circumstances surrounding this incident. Further updates will be made public as more information becomes available”.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has expressed annoyance over the development but called on the public to remain calm and peaceful while the investigation is ongoing.
CP Adepoju, however, urged members of the public to report any suspicious activities or concerns to the nearest Police Station or other Security agencies for prompt action.
He reiterates the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens, particularly vulnerable populations such as minors.
“The Command will continue to work tirelessly to address any issues that may compromise the security and dignity of individuals within our State”, the statement concluded.
Watch the video below.
This is sickening—child abuse disguised as “spiritual cleansing” is nothing but cruelty. A church should be a refuge, not a torture ground, and everyone involved must face the full weight of the law.