The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has said that some parents defending a Rivers State pastor arrested for flogging children during a so-called “spiritual cleansing” require counselling to understand the implications of their actions.
NAPTIP’s Rivers State official, Nwamaka Ikediashi, described the flogging as “a total case of child abuse” and stressed that the parents were also victims.
“The parents are victims as well because they do not understand the implications, but if they did, they would not let their children be subjected to such inhuman treatment and torture,” Ikediashi said.
The pastor, identified as Ifediorah Joseph, was arrested by police in Port Harcourt after allegedly flogging over 20 children during a three-day programme, which he claimed was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Following his arrest, some children and their parents visited the police station singing and dancing in his support. One parent told reporters she had consented to the act, saying it was meant to protect the children from “a looming threat.”
“My daughter was among the children that was purified. The message was that death was in the air, and they should purify the children. They did the purification with pigeon blood, water and palm fruit,” the parent said.
Police said investigations are ongoing. The rescued children have been placed under protective care while the pastor and several church members remain in custody.
