Edith CHUKU
More condemnations have continued to trail the dehumanization of minors by a 41-year old pastor, Mr. Ifediorah Onyeibor Joseph.
In a video circulating on social media, Ifediorah was captured performing a supposed spiritual cleansing on children between the age range of three to six years, within a Church setting.
While he flogged some with palm fronds, he used live fowl to flog the smaller ones. This distressing incident happened in Eneka Community of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Though the state Police commands has confirmed the arrest of the pastor, but some persons are of the opinion that the mothers or guidance of the minors who were subjected to such torture be arrested for questioning.
Speaking in an interview with TNN on Thursday, Mrs. Gloria Nnebu Hardy, blamed the mothers of the children and demanded their immediate arrest.
Hardy said “I blame their mothers. The mothers of those children are heartless, infact, they should not be called mothers. What kind of spiritual foolishness and blindness is this? How can a woman allow her child go through such torture in the name of cleansing from what?
“Their mothers should be arrested, lets be sure they are actually their mothers abi they kidnapped the children.
” When I had my second daughter. They told me she has a spiritual husband and that the man was coming to take her, that she was released to come to earth without his consent.
“My dear, them brain wash me, brain wash me, I asked them what they want to do so my child will survive because she was very sick, she almost died. They said they will need to take her somewhere and remove what what that connects her to the man, my sister, I no gree, you know wetin I suffer for labour room.
“They have arrested the pastor, but he did not kidnap the children, people brought them to him, those people that brought the children should be arrested for questioning.”
Meanwhile, the Police said that, “preliminary investigations reveal that pastor Ifediorah allegedly organized a 3-day program for children in his Church, purportedly for “spiritual cleaning,” claiming to have been 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.”
The command assured that, “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 state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga A. Adepoju, has urged the public to remain calm and peaceful while the investigation was ongoing.
He also appealed to members of the public to report suspicious activities or concerns to the nearest Police station or other security agencies.
The CP reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens, particularly vulnerable populations such as minors.
He added that the command would continue to work tirelessly to address any issues that may compromise the security and dignity of individuals within our state.”
