The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 41-year-old Pastor Ifediorah Onyeibor Joseph caught on video for allegedly ‘dehumanisation and abuse’ of children during a controversial church programme in Port Harcourt.
LEADERSHIP reports that the disturbing video has been circulating on social media showing at least 20 children, many unclad, kneeling, and holding palm leaves while being serially flogged with palm fronds. In the footage, a man is seen whipping the children before tossing them one after the other to a man and woman dressed in white.
A voice in the background of the video alleged that the incident had been ongoing for days.
“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 narrator said.
“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.”
However, in a statement on Wednesday, Rivers State Police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest, stating that Pastor Ifediorah allegedly organised a three-day programme for the children, which he claimed was for “spiritual cleaning” and claimed was 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,” Iringe-Koko said.
“A thorough investigation is currently underway to unravel the circumstances surrounding this incident. Further updates will be made public as more information becomes available.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, called for calm while the investigation continued.
“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.
The case has sparked outrage online, with many netizens demanding swift justice for the children.
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