According to the source, the woman left the child with the pastor, but by the time she returned, the cleric had allegedly flogged the teenager with a horsewhip and was attempting to rush her to a hospital. The girl was later confirmed dead.
By TheInvestigator
A 13-year-old girl has died after allegedly being flogged with a horsewhip by a pastor in Cross River State, triggering outrage and raising fresh concerns about the use of corporal punishment in religious settings.
The founder of Goodness of Jesus Ministry in Wula, Boki Local Government Area, Roman Samson, and the girl’s mother, Agnes, are currently in police custody following the incident, which reportedly occurred on June 1, 2026.
The teenager was accused of stealing ₦30,000 belonging to her mother before she was allegedly subjected to severe flogging that resulted in her death.
Investigators said the girl’s mother had taken her to the pastor’s residence after accusing her of repeatedly stealing money and engaging in what she described as wayward behaviour.
A source at the Homicide Section of the Cross River State Police Command said the mother reported that she could not find the ₦30,000 she had kept at home and suspected her daughter was responsible.
According to the source, the woman left the child with the pastor, but by the time she returned, the cleric had allegedly flogged the teenager with a horsewhip and was attempting to rush her to a hospital. The girl was later confirmed dead.
However, the mother denied instructing the pastor to physically punish her daughter.
Speaking of the incident, Agnes said she had only sought spiritual intervention and counselling after discovering her missing money.
“It is true that I took my daughter to the pastor because my ₦30,000 was missing,” she said. “She eventually admitted taking the money and told me where she kept it. I left briefly to confirm her claim and recovered the money.”
She maintained that the pastor had not started beating the girl before she left.
“When I was returning, I saw him taking my daughter to the hospital. I never asked him to kill my child. I only wanted him to advise and caution her,” she said.
The pastor, however, offered a different account, claiming the mother specifically requested that the girl be beaten.
Samson told journalists that he had known the family for about four years and had frequently intervened in disputes involving the teenager, whom he accused of repeatedly stealing from her mother.
According to him, the woman had previously reported similar incidents to him on several occasions.
“She brought the girl to my house and said she had stolen her money again,” the pastor said. “She asked me to beat her and said she had already beaten her herself.”
The cleric admitted using a horsewhip on the teenager.
“I went for my horsewhip and gave her about 13 to 15 strokes. After some time, I noticed she had become very weak. I immediately rushed her to the hospital, but she died before we arrived,” he said.
Expressing regret over the incident, Samson insisted he had no intention of harming the girl.
“I feel very sad about what happened. She was like a daughter to me,” he said.
The Cross River State Police Command confirmed that both the pastor and the girl’s mother had been arrested as investigations continue.
Police spokesperson, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, said the command was committed to uncovering the full circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death and ensuring that justice is served.
The tragic incident has sparked concern among residents and child rights advocates, who argue that disciplinary measures involving physical violence can have fatal consequences and should never replace proper counselling or lawful corrective procedures.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to determine the extent of responsibility of those involved and whether criminal charges will be filed in connection with the girl’s death.
