A disturbing video circulating online has renewed concern over the alleged maltreatment of children during a church ritual in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
The footage shows a group of minors gathered inside a church compound while adults appear to conduct what was described as a spiritual cleansing or deliverance exercise. The disturbing images have triggered renewed calls for authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the treatment of the children and ensure their safety.
GhanaMedia.net has verified the circulation of the footage and the underlying Port Harcourt incident. However, the video should not be presented as a new 2026 occurrence without additional official confirmation.
What Happened in Port Harcourt?
The footage is connected to an incident reported in Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, where a viral video showed children being subjected to a religious ritual described by church authorities as “spiritual cleansing.”
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Nigerian authorities previously confirmed that police intervened after the video surfaced online. The Rivers State Police Command said Pastor Ifediorah Onyeibor Joseph and several church members were arrested while investigations were launched into the treatment of the minors.
Channels Television reported that the children were allegedly being struck with palm leaves during the ceremony, while parents who spoke to journalists said they had consented to the religious programme.
Police Investigated the Allegations
The Rivers State Police Command described the programme as a three-day exercise purportedly organised for “spiritual cleansing.” Police said the intervention followed the circulation of the disturbing footage.
TheCable reported that at least 20 children appeared in the video and that the footage prompted police action.
The Guardian Nigeria also reported the arrest of the pastor following the viral footage, noting that the police said investigations were underway to establish what occurred.
Parents Defended the Church Programme
One of the most controversial aspects of the case was the response from some parents of the children. Reports at the time said some parents went to the police station to defend the pastor and insist that they had willingly taken their children to the church for the ritual.
However, the question of parental consent did not end concerns about the welfare and treatment of the minors. The case prompted wider discussions about child protection, religious practices and the responsibility of adults entrusted with the care of children.
Why the Leaked Video Matters
The renewed circulation of the footage is likely to generate fresh public attention because of the vulnerable age of the children shown in it.
GhanaMedia.net has previously reported on serious cases involving the protection of children, including a human trafficking and assault case involving Nigerian nationals in Ghana and a reported child torture case involving a Ghanaian man and his Nigerian wife in Libya.
The resurfacing of the Port Harcourt footage also reinforces the need for responsible handling of videos involving minors. Members of the public should avoid sharing identifiable images of children in ways that could further expose or harm them.
Authorities Urged to Protect the Children
While the original incident was investigated by Nigerian authorities, the renewed circulation of the footage has prompted fresh public concern over whether all the circumstances surrounding the children have been fully addressed.
Any new claims arising from the circulation of the video should be independently established by the relevant Nigerian authorities before being treated as fact.
GhanaMedia.net will continue to monitor credible developments and publish verified information as it becomes available.
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