The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 41-year-old Pastor Ifediorah Onyeibor Joseph in connection with the alleged mistreatment of children within his church.
The pastor is accused of subjecting at least 20 children to physical punishment in what he described as a “spiritual cleaning” program.
A short video circulating on social media shows the children kneeling while clutching palm leaves as a man repeatedly beats them with the fronds. Many of the children in the footage appear to be unclad. A voice in the background of the video claims that the children have been enduring this treatment for several days.
“This has been happening for three days now. They flog them and strip them naked. The children are crying, and they have visible marks on their bodies,” the voice explains. “Only God knows where these children came from. There’s blood in a basin here. This has been going on for days, and we couldn’t sleep.”
The video also shows the children being handed over, one by one, to a couple dressed in white after they were whipped.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police, said that Pastor Ifediorah organized a three-day program for children in his church, claiming it was a form of “spiritual cleansing” inspired by the Holy Spirit.
“Initial investigations suggest that Pastor Ifediorah organized the three-day event in his church for the children, purportedly for spiritual cleansing,” the statement reads. “The police arrested the pastor and several church members at the scene following the information they received.”
The Rivers State Police Command has launched a full investigation into the incident, and further updates will be shared as more details emerge. Police Commissioner Olugbenga A. Adepoju has called on the public to remain calm as the investigation progresses and urged them to report any suspicious activities to local authorities.
In response to the allegations, the parents of the children involved have confirmed that they were fully aware of the program and had given their consent for their children to participate. They have denied any claims of mistreatment or abuse.
