The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has said that parents supporting a Rivers State pastor arrested for flogging over 20 children during a purported “spiritual cleansing” exercise require counselling.
NAPTIP’s Rivers State Coordinator, Nwamaka Ikediashi, described the incident as “a clear case of child abuse,” noting that both the children and their parents are victims.
“The parents are victims as well because they do not understand the implications,” Ikediashi said. “If they were properly enlightened, they would never allow their children to be subjected to such degrading treatment.”
According to her, proper psychological counselling is needed to help the parents recognise the dangers of exposing their children to harmful practices masked as religion or deliverance.
The pastor, identified as Ifediorah Joseph, was apprehended by police after footage shared on social media showed children being beaten during a three-day church programme in Port Harcourt.
Despite the outrage that followed, some of the affected children and their parents reportedly stormed the police station in solidarity with the cleric, singing and dancing in his defence.
One mother told reporters she had willingly given consent for her daughter to participate in the “purification ritual,” insisting it was meant to avert death and spiritual dangers.
“They purified the children with pigeon blood, water and palm fruit because we were told death was hanging in the air,” the parent claimed.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed that an investigation was ongoing and that the children had been rescued and placed under protective custody.
Ikediashi appealed to faith leaders and parents to prioritise children’s welfare over fear-driven spiritual practices.
“No child should go through torture under the guise of spiritual cleansing,” she added. “We must collectively ensure their safety and wellbeing.”
