Rivers pastor, four church members arrested over child ‘cleansing’ ritual

The Rivers state police command has arrested Ifediorah Joseph, pastor of Our Lord Victory Covenant Mission Church, Eneka, and four church members after a viral video showed unclad minors being whipped during a religious ritual.

The 41-year-old pastor allegedly organised a three-day programme for children, which he described as a “spiritual cleansing” directed by the Holy Spirit.

The footage, which has spread widely on social media, shows Joseph striking children aged between five and nine with palm tree leaves while other church members looked on.

Olugbenga Adepoju, Rivers commissioner of police, ordered an investigation after the video was brought to the attention of the authorities.

Police operatives later stormed the church and arrested Joseph along with four members linked to the act.

In an unexpected turn, some parents of the affected children visited the Eneka police division, singing and dancing in support of the pastor.

They said they had given full consent for the ritual, describing it as a harmless spiritual exercise.

One of the parents, Ngozi Uzoma, told journalists the children were undergoing “spiritual purification” and not abuse.

Joseph also told reporters that the act had the parents’ full approval and was meant to cleanse the children spiritually.

“I acted under the direction of the Holy Spirit,” he said when asked about using a pigeon’s blood to bathe the children.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has joined the investigation.

Komani Timipire, NAPTIP’s intelligence officer, said parental consent does not override the rights of a child and that the incident is being treated as potential child abuse.

The Rivers police command said investigations were ongoing and assured the public of its commitment to safeguarding minors.

Akpo Lewis, divisional police officer of Eneka police station, confirmed to Channels Television the arrest of Joseph, the church’s welfare secretary, Promise Nwikegha, and a minister, Deborah Ohia.

The video shows each child being whipped multiple times before being led to a separate group described as “cleansed.”