Abakaliki: The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested Nwankpu James, a self-styled prophet, for allegedly abusing and humiliating a child accused of witchcraft.
The Commissioner of Police, Mrs Hope Okafor, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abakaliki on Tuesday by SP Joshua Ukandu, Spokesman of the Command.
She said the incident occurred in Isohumini Agbaja community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state.
Okafor said that the arrest followed the prophet’s actions in a viral video, where the children were being maltreated in an abusive and inhuman manner.
She continued that, after the video was reviewed, operatives of the Command were immediately directed to ensure the arrest of the suspect and the rescue of the child.
Acting on this directive, operatives traced the suspect and the child’s parents to Isohumini Agbaja in Izzi Local Government Area, arrested the suspect, and successfully rescued the child.
“The suspect is currently in our custody as investigations into the incident continue.”
The rescued child is receiving medical attention at Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA), Okafor added.
Okafor reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting citizens’ rights and dignity, especially children, and strongly warned against child abuse and inhumane acts.
A resident, Mr Mather Nwachukwu, said the child had suffered frequent illness, which led her parents to seek spiritual help from the prophet.
The prophet was then alleged to have accused the child of witchcraft and subjected her to humiliating practices in the name of deliverance.
