“I acted below route of Holy Spirit,” Rivers Pastor in child-flogging video speaks

A Rivers State primarily based Pastor recognized Ifediorah Joseph seen whipping a bunch of bare youngsters in a viral video has mentioned he was appearing on the instruction of the holy spirit.

The video was allegedly recorded at a three-day programme organised by his for kids, tagged “non secular cleaning” impressed by the Holy Spirit.

Within the viral video, the Pastor was proven beating the kids believed to be between 5 and 9 years outdated with palm fronds throughout a church ceremony.

Within the footage, the cleric whips every little one a number of instances with the bunch of palm fronds after which he handed them one other group the place they’re cleansed as “cleansed” with a watery substance believed to include blood of pigeon.

The video had sparked outrage on the social media and in response, the nationwide headquarters of Nationwide Company for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Individuals (NAPTIP) directed its Rivers State workplace to research the video.

Nonetheless, Pastor Ifediorah Joseph who’s the top of Our Lord Victory Covenant Mission Church in Eneka space of Port Harcourt was arrested by the police on Wednesday in response to the viral video.

He was arrested alongside 4 members of his church primarily based on the instruction of Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju

The others arrested with the Pastor are the church’s welfare secretary, Promise Nwikegha, and a minister, Deborah Ohia.

Chatting with journalist on the Rivers Police Headquarters in Port Harcourt on Thursday, the Pastor defended his motion.

He additionally obtained the help of some dad and mom current on the police station.

In response to the Pastor, the ritual was carried out on the scholars with the consent of their dad and mom.

He additionally mentioned the ritual was for the kids’s non secular purification.

“I acted below the route of the Holy Spirit,” he mentioned responded to query on whether or not he thinks utilizing pigeon’s blood to wash the kids was wholesome for them.

A number of the dad and mom of the kids who stormed the Eneka Police Division sang and danced in help of the pastor.

Additionally they confirmed that they submitted their youngsters for the ritual whereas insisting that what the Pastor was caught doing on viral video doesn’t quantity to little one abuse

Mrs Ngozi Uzoma, one of many dad and mom instructed journalists that the kids have been present process a innocent non secular train.

Police spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko had in a press release on Wednesday introduced the arrest of the Pastor.

“Rivers State Police Command has taken swift motion in response to a distressing on-line video, circulating on social media, depicting the dehumanisation of minors inside a Church setting, the place the presiding Pastor, Pastor Ifediorah Onyeibor Joseph (41), has been arrested in reference to the incident,” she mentioned in a press release.

Iringe-Koko mentioned preliminary investigations revealed that the kids have been allegedly subjected to a three-day programme for “non secular cleansing” claimed by the pastor to be impressed by the Holy Spirit.

The Police spokesperson added: “Preliminary investigations reveal that Pastor Ifediorah allegedly organised a 3-day program for kids in his Church, purportedly for non secular cleansing, claiming to have been impressed by the Holy Spirit.”

In response to the assertion, neighbours, who couldn’t bear what they witnessed, reportedly recorded the incident and shared it on social media in hopes of prompting a rescue operation.

Iringe-Koko disclosed that police operatives, appearing on intelligence, arrested the pastor and several other church members on the scene. She mentioned a “thorough investigation is presently underway to unravel the circumstances surrounding this incident.”

The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, known as on the general public to stay calm and cooperate with safety businesses.

He urged: “Members of the general public ought to report any suspicious actions or issues to the closest Police Station or different Safety businesses.”

Adepoju reiterated the command’s “unwavering dedication to making sure the security and well-being of all residents, significantly weak populations reminiscent of minors,” and vowed that the police will “proceed to work tirelessly to handle any points that will compromise the safety and dignity of people inside the State.”