In what appears a fulfillment of scriptures that evil will increase in the later days, the Rivers State Police Command parades several pastors with strange practices in the state
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
The belief in some quarters that not every pastor is holy and that some altars are devilish institutions cloaked in scripture is playing out in Rivers State, where it is now one day, many troubles as occult pastors parading themselves in urban and rural areas are wreaking havoc in the name of spiritual cleansing.
But the long arm of the law is catching up with them one after the other, Tentacle can authoritatively reveal. They claim to be demon destroyers whereas they are the demons themselves disguised as pastors.
One of them identified as Pastor Ifediorah Onyeibor Joseph, the Lead Pastor of the Lord Victory Covenant Mission Church, Port Harcourt has been arrested by Rivers State Police Command over alleged “dehumanization” of children in his church.
According to reports, the evil pastor allegedly subjected about 20 children to several physical abuses under the guise of “Spiritual Cleansings”.
Disturbing footage circulating online shows the cleric whipping the children aged between four and nine with palm fronds completely naked repeatedly on their heads and bodies, while they cried in pain.
After each flogging, the Pastor would grab them and toss them to a church member who caught them mid air before placing them aside for another one to bathe them with blood of pigeon.
One parent who attempted to intervene was reportedly rebuked and chased away by the Pastor who insisted that the brutal process was divinely inspired. Acting on intelligence, operatives stormed the Church and arrested the 41-year-old pastor and several members, while rescuing the traumatized children.
According to Tentacle sources, when questioned by the Police, the Pastor showed no remorse. He boldly defended his actions, insisting that the practice was part of the church’s annual ritual. “This is our religion, we do this every year. It is a form of cleansing and every church has its own belief system,” he stated.
His comments have since fueled debates about the thin line between freedom of religion and the violation of human rights, especially the rights of children.
While some argue that cultural or religious practices should be respected, many believe this particular ritual borders on Child Abuse.
The Federal Government agrees with them by condemning the inhuman and dehumanized treatment of the innocent children carried out under the practice of spiritual cleansing exercise.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Welfare made this known in a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. John Eze in Abuja. She described the act as “barbaric, criminal and gross violation of the Child Rights Act.”
She fumed: “Whether by strangers, community leaders or parents, any individual or group found culpable of such heinous acts will be held accountable under the Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. This includes any parent or guardian who aided or condoned the abuse,” she said.
This incident brings back memories of a similar case in Lagos State in 2022, where a self-acclaimed prophet was arrested after he was caught subjecting children to so-called “Deliverance Rituals”.
The children were reportedly locked inside a dark room, starved, and forced to undergo harsh treatments in the name of spiritual cleansing. Just like in the recent case, the Prophet defended his actions, claiming it was part of his ministry’s doctrine.
Human Rights Groups have already condemned the actions of Our Lord’s Covenant Mission Pastor, calling for a thorough investigation and stricter monitoring of religious institutions across the country.
Again, the City of Port Harcourt was thrown into another shock after operatives of Rivers State Police Command arrested the Senior Pastor of God Deliverance Apostolic Church, Udom Francis.
The arrest followed a disturbing discovery of a live python and a coffin inside the church altar located at Rumunduru, Port Harcourt.
According to Police Reports, a live python and a coffin were uncovered after officers stormed the church in response to multiple complaints from concerned members of the congregation. Worshippers had raised suspicions over strange activities in the church prompting law enforcement operatives to launch an investigation.
In a related development, Rivers State High Court presided by Hon. Justice S. O. Benson has sentenced the General Overseer of Altar of Solution and Healing Assembly, Oyigbo, a suburb of Port Harcourt City, Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor to death by hanging for killing his pregnant choir mistress, Concilla Ezenwa, the Church Women Leader, Mrs. Uluoma Onwegba and her nine-month-old baby girl, Christabel in a thick forest for ritual purposes. The trial Judge said the evidence and confessional statements from the Pastor showed that truly he committed the heinous crime and therefore he sentenced him accordingly.
Reacting to the incidents, a cleric Bishop Johnson Okoro said: “This is what happens when people leave the word and go for signs and wonders. Criminal elements are now everywhere misleading and swindling unsuspecting people. Sadly, these unsuspecting people make themselves vulnerable by their desire. They will be exposed one after another.
In his own reaction, Noel George said that the man is not alone in this devilish practice hiding under the guise of a “deliverance ministry”. The question is “Is he a pastor or a native doctor? His likes are spread across Rivers State. I pity those who stand up and attend any how Church they see. This is not the Church we know, herbalists in designer suits in another setting.
Peace Anulika agrees with him “God will continue to expose them and as many that have the gift of running from one ministry to the other, be careful, fake churches everywhere, may God help us; Using religion to cover up for evil deeds”.
