By Temitope Adetunji
Annastasia Kinse, a native of Plateau State, made history as the first reverend sister from her village. But after a decade in the convent, her life took a turn — she was dismissed from the Congregation of Mother of Perpetual Help of the Archangels Sisters. In this interview with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI, she opens up about her dismissal and the journey of faith that followed.
For how long did you serve in the convent?
My name is Annastasia Kinse. I’m a few months away from turning 30. I am from Plateau State. I was a reverend sister under the Congregation of Mother of Perpetual Help of the Archangels Sisters, Auchi Diocese, Edo State. I also served as a Graduate Assistant at Veritas University, Abuja, while pursuing my master’s degree there before my dismissal.
I joined the convent in July 2015, went through formation for two years, and made my perpetual profession in 2023. I was proud to be the first sister from my village and tribe. For me, religious life was a deep calling, a way to serve God completely, in sincerity and truth.
What exactly happened that led to your dismissal?
In July 2025, my congregation issued an official clarification and disclaimer letter on Facebook and WhatsApp. The letter stated that a dismissal notice had been dated July 21, but I did not officially receive it until September 24. By then, rumours about my status were already spreading, following the circulation of a letter written by a priest of the Auchi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Solomon Andrew Olumekhor, on social media. To clear the air, I made a public post on Facebook explaining what happened.
The letter claimed that I had acted against my vows and identified as a Muslim, but that was completely false. What truly happened was that I reported a case of harassment at Veritas University. My report didn’t sit well with the vice chancellor and others. Instead of receiving support, I was met with silence, intimidation, and eventually, dismissal.
What kind of harassment did you report?
It was a case of sexual harassment. The man involved was my head of department. I had voice recordings and videos as evidence. My intention was not to destroy anyone’s reputation; I only wanted to prevent him from doing it to other women.
At first, I wrote a confidential complaint, requesting that my identity be protected because I didn’t want it to become a scandal. But soon after, I was told to remove the anonymity clause and defend my claims openly.
They set up a panel that made me feel as though I was the one on trial. The panel members were instructed to make me prove where such cases had been reported and not handled by the university. I felt heartbroken that the burden of proof was being pushed onto me instead of the institution conducting a proper investigation. None of the people I had written to, including the Chief Medical Director of the university, was invited to testify.
What happened when you appeared before the panel?
It was a very difficult experience. The panel hearing was scheduled for the same day I had an exam. I chose to forfeit the exam to attend. When I arrived, they seized my phone and bag.
Inside, the atmosphere was hostile. I was asked intimidating questions such as, “If you knew he was going to harass you, why did you go to his office?”, as if I could avoid my own head of department. Several panel members spoke at once, and it felt like they were trying to confuse and unsettle me.
The session lasted for about an hour and a half. Before that day, I had written to the school, explaining that I was under pressure and experiencing mental distress. I even requested counselling or any form of support, but none was provided.
A day before the hearing, I also wrote to the vice chancellor, stating that I was aware of the instructions he had given to the dean of my faculty, and that I found it unfair that the burden of proof was being placed on me instead of the university investigating the matter.
After the hearing, priests and other staff members came to visit my house uninvited. They came with an unidentified nurse and others. I was about to leave the house when I saw them approaching. I felt completely cornered. I stopped a motorcycle to get away, but they shouted at the rider to stop. I was terrified.
What is the relationship between Veritas University and Congregation of Mother of Perpetual Help of the Archangels Sisters?
Veritas University is a Catholic institution owned by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. My congregation was founded by the Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese in Edo State. The Vice Chancellor and the Bishop attempted to silence me, claiming that speaking out would tarnish the image of the university they had worked hard to build.
You made a post about identifying as a Muslim. What exactly did you mean?
Yes, that post caused a lot of misunderstanding. On July 12, I wrote on Facebook that I had converted to Islam. That post was not a conversion; it was made in a moment of frustration and despair. My aunt died as a Muslim, and her name, Salamatu, came to mind when I made that post. The picture used was from 2023.
At that time, I felt abandoned by the Church system I had served all my life. I was angry that the very people who should protect victims were instead protecting perpetrators. It was an emotional outburst; a cry of pain, not a renunciation of my faith.
How did your congregation respond to all this?
They didn’t reach out to help. Instead, they began to treat me like a problem. They even sent a priest who had previously made advances toward me to “counsel” me. I couldn’t speak to him because I was angry; he was the last face I wanted to see.
He later called my neighbour to find out what happened, and was told I had been harassed.
But since the priest was on a revenge mission because I had refused his advances, he twisted the story and spread the narrative that I had refused to cooperate with them.
I tried to explain my situation to the bishop. I sent messages and letters through WhatsApp, but he later denied ever receiving them, even though I had proof of delivery.
I spent 10 years in religious life. I joined the convent because I wanted to dedicate myself to God and to service. But what I went through in the form of harassment, cover-up, and intimidation broke my trust in the authorities. A lot happened that I don’t yet feel safe discussing.
Tell us about the day your belongings were thrown outside.
It was a day I will never forget. After a meeting with the bishop, the superior general, a sister, and some priests, the bishop told me to spend the night in the guesthouse of my former community.
I refused because of the painful memories attached to that place. I insisted on returning to the central house.
When I arrived, I found all my belongings dumped outside, and my religious habit had already been taken away, without any explanation or courtesy. I took a photo and sent it to a priest because I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
That same night, I made a Facebook post announcing my dismissal, not to seek pity, but to let the public know what had happened.
How did that make you feel?
It shattered me. Ten years of devotion, obedience, and sacrifice, all dismissed in an instant. I was treated like an outcast, discarded without compassion. I felt humiliated, abandoned, and betrayed by the very institution I had loved and served faithfully.
But through it all, I never lost my faith. I still love the Church. My faith in God remains unshaken, even though my faith in human institutions has been tested. I am going through so much, facing several challenges, but I still want justice.
What are your immediate plans now?
Honestly, I don’t have any concrete plans yet. I wasn’t prepared for any of this. My main goal is justice, not revenge, just the truth.
When I reported the case, I was told the institution needed to protect itself. But why protect an institution and not the victim? If institutions keep silencing victims, the Church will continue to lose credibility.
I’ve seen others go through similar experiences and get silenced, too. That’s why I’m speaking up, not just for myself but for every woman who has been told to “keep quiet.”
You also mentioned you’re battling a health condition.
Yes. I was involved in a motorcycle accident in February last year. I sustained a disc bulge and have been in pain ever since. My back swells, and it affects my movement. I’ve been managing it on my own without medical support.
Travelling between Jos, Abuja, and Auchi made it worse. Right now, I live with my cousin, and my sister often comes to help me. I need medical treatment, but I’ve refused to take help from those who mistreated me. I would rather struggle honestly than return to them for assistance.
As I often say, I would rather hawk chin-chin and groundnuts on the street than sell my body or become a temple prostitute. I promised my mother that, and I have kept that promise to this day.
Is it true that your parents were contacted by the congregation?
Yes. Without my consent, the congregation and the university reached out to my parents, claiming I needed psychiatric help. They even sent N50,000 to my father’s account as transport fare for my mother to come to Abuja.
They tried to convince my parents that I was mentally unstable. I warned them, “If you come believing their story, you won’t find me in Abuja.”
To prove I was fine, I completed my exams and travelled home to Jos on my own. I also visited a university teaching hospital for psychological and psychiatric evaluation. I’ve been waiting for the hospital to release the report for months now.
How did the bishop’s meeting go after that?
While I was at the hospital for tests, the bishop called. I answered and told him exactly where I was, yet later, he claimed I had refused communication, which I found baffling.
When I eventually went to see him, he invited a dean and others to join the meeting. Then the superior handed me a letter accusing me of apostasy, saying I had renounced Christianity and converted to Islam.
I told the bishop it was a complete lie, but he said there was nothing he could do and asked what I wanted him to do now that I was no longer one of them.
I took the letter quietly and walked away.
Did you face any other form of harassment within the Church?
Yes. Apart from the university case, another priest also made sexual advances toward me. He said he wanted to be “the first man to sleep with me.” I rejected him, not just him, but others too. I was considered a wicked person for not being “forthcoming,” according to the priests.
Even the superior knew about it. But they will not corroborate my story since they are lying about so much that happened.
I believe the effort to silence me was because exposing one case would expose many others. Instead of helping victims, they protect reputations.
They told me I was wasting my time speaking up, that nobody would help me. But I believe the online community, human rights activists, and people who love justice will not ignore this.
I refuse to be part of a system that reduces my worth and treats me as a commodity.
Despite everything, do you still consider yourself a consecrated person?
Yes, I do. The letter of dismissal was based on false grounds. I took perpetual vows, vows meant to last until death.
You can’t undo that with a letter full of lies.
They even accused me of burning my religious habit, which was untrue. I only packed my things from the hangers in frustration, and I made a video asking my sisters to come for their habits because of the pressure I was under.
If they claim I’m mentally unstable, where is the medical proof? If they say I went for counselling, where are the records? These are questions no one has answered. They also claimed they sent me to the monastery in Ewu, Edo State; these are all lies from the pit of hell.
What lessons have you learned from all this?
This experience has opened my eyes. There is a lot of rot in the Church, and silence only worsens it. I’ve realised that truth is often inconvenient, and many institutions will do anything to suppress it.
But keeping quiet helps no one. If the Catholic Church in Nigeria can establish proper systems for handling abuse, it will not only help the Church but it will also help society.
The Church is meant to be a light to the world, not a place where victims are silenced.
I’ve also learned to stand firm. They can take away my position, my title, and my job, but they cannot take away my voice.
What message would you give to young women aspiring to religious life?
Religious life is beautiful, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. It’s a path meant to lead one closer to Christ, not a place of comfort or prestige.
I would advise young women to pray deeply and discern carefully. Not everyone in the convent is there for God; some are there for power, control, or personal gain. Go in with pure intentions.
When you choose truth, you’ll be misunderstood and labelled “difficult” or “disobedient.” But don’t let that break you. Stay close to Jesus. Pray the Rosary. Stay rooted in the Blessed Sacrament.
Most importantly, if you ever experience abuse or injustice, speak up. Don’t let fear silence you. And before joining any religious order, do your research. Ask questions. Observe. If something feels wrong, walk away.
How has your family handled all of this?
My family has been incredibly supportive. We are six children – three boys and three girls. My parents were deeply shocked when they heard what happened, but they stood by me through it all.
They believe in justice and truth, and their faith in me has given me the strength to keep moving forward, even when everything else seemed to fall apart.
What keeps you going now?
Faith; pure faith. I’ve witnessed the darkest sides of human behaviour within sacred walls, yet I’ve also experienced God’s unfailing love and faithfulness.
There are days I cry, and others when I find deep peace in prayer.
I may have lost my position, my home, and even my health, but I haven’t lost my purpose.
If my voice can help just one person find the courage to stand up against injustice, then my pain will not be in vain.
I believe God is still writing my story, and one day, even the chapters that broke me will make sense.
When contacted for comments on the allegations, the Superior General of the Mother of Perpetual Help of the Archangels Sisters, Sr Maryanne Ogwokhademhe, referred our correspondent to an official statement issued by the congregation on August 29, 2025.
In the statement, jointly signed by Sr Ogwokhademhe and the Secretary-General, Sr Rosemary Odion, the congregation claimed that Miss Kinse Shako Anastasia had “ipso facto ceased to be a member of the congregation when she defected from the Catholic faith and embraced Islam.”
The statement further denied her allegations of mistreatment, insisting that “at no time did she ever report any case of sexual abuse to the congregation.” It added that her dismissal was due to “acts of gross misconduct” and her “persistent rejection of fraternal correction.”
An inquiry letter was also sent to the Human Resources Department of Veritas University, Abuja, on October 8, 2025. Still, no response had been received as of the time of filing this report.
Originally published by Punch Newspapers and written by Temitope Adetunji.
