The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 41-year-old pastor, Ifediorah Onyeibor Joseph, alongside several church members, over alleged dehumanisation of minors during a religious ceremony in Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest follows the circulation of a disturbing video on social media, showing at least 20 children, some unclothed and aged between five and nine, being whipped with palm fronds inside a church.
In the footage, the children were seen kneeling and holding palm leaves as the pastor repeatedly struck them on the head and body before tossing them towards other church members dressed in white. The minors were then separated into a group described as “cleansed.”
The background narration alleged that the abuse had been ongoing for three days as part of a “spiritual cleansing” exercise, with some children bearing visible marks.
Eyewitnesses claimed that stripping the children formed part of the ritual before subjecting them to whipping, which reportedly lasted about a minute for each child.
One parent who attempted to intervene after hearing their child cry was allegedly rebuked and ordered to leave by the pastor.
Confirming the arrests, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that preliminary investigations revealed the pastor had organised a three-day programme, claiming he was “led by the Holy Spirit” to carry out the cleansing.
“Upon receiving credible intelligence, operatives of the command stormed the church, arrested the pastor and several members, and rescued about 20 children,” Iringe-Koko stated, adding, “A thorough investigation is underway to determine the full circumstances surrounding this incident.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, condemned the act and urged residents to remain calm while investigations continue. He also appealed to the public to report suspicious activities or cases of child abuse to security agencies.
The rescued children are currently under the care of social welfare authorities, while the suspects remain in custody.
The Rivers incident adds to a troubling pattern of child abuse linked to harmful religious practices in Nigeria.
In Abuja, a pastor, Bawa Madaki, was arrested for unlawfully holding 23 children under the guise of curing them of “witchcraft.” In Ondo State, two clergymen were detained after allegedly hypnotising 77 people, including 23 children, isolating them in a church for a so-called “special cleansing” ahead of the Second Coming.
In Ogun State in 2020, Prophet Ebenezer Ajigbotoluwa was arrested for defiling and impregnating two underage sisters who had come for spiritual healing. In Akwa Ibom and Cross River, Helen Ukpabio’s controversial teachings have been linked to widespread branding and abuse of children accused of witchcraft.
Child rights advocates say such incidents, often disguised as religious deliverance or cleansing rituals, amount to violations of the Child Rights Act and carry serious legal consequences. They warn that without stronger enforcement and community awareness, more children remain at risk of exploitation under the cover of faith.
