Ebonyi police arrests prophet, parents over abuse of sick child
By Oswald Agwu, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a self-acclaimed prophet identified as James Nwankpu for alleged abusive and inhuman treatment of a sick child, tagging her a witch.
Also arrested by the command were the parents of the child who conspired with the prophet to conduct the unholy acts in the name of deliverance.
Confirming the development to newsmen on Wednesday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the arrest followed a viral video on social media, of the prophet abusing the child in the name of deliverance.
The incident happened at Isohumini Agbaja Community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Ukandu said: “The State Police command of the Nigeria Police Force, has arrested the prophet whose name was giving as Nwankpu James following a viral video in which the suspect was seen carrying and handling a child in an abusive and inhumane manner while the child lay on bare ground.”
The PPRO stated that the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, following the incident, immediately directed operatives of the Command to ensure the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of the child.
“Acting on the directive, operatives traced the suspect and the child’s parents to Isohumini Agbaja Community in Izzi Local Government Area, where the suspects were arrested and the child successfully rescued.
“The suspects are currently in custody as investigations into the incident continue. Meanwhile, the rescued child has been admitted to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA) for immediate medical attention.
“The Command reiterates its commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all citizens, particularly children, and strongly warns against all forms of child abuse and inhumane acts” he emphasized.
According to the social media reports circulating earlier, the parents of the child were the ones that took their child to the prophet, being frustrated by the child’s alleged recalcitrant ill health which according to them, has defied solution.
The circulating video showed the Prophet picking the child and throwing her on the bare floor like an ordinary material in the process of his exorcism.
