“I Gave Her 15 Strokes” – Pastor Confesses to Flogging 13-Year-Old to Death

A 45-year-old pastor in Cross River State has been arrested for allegedly flogging a 13-year-old girl to death with a horsewhip after she was accused of stealing N30,000 from her mother, with both the pastor and the victim’s mother now in police custody as investigations continue into the tragic incident that has sparked outrage in the community. The incident occurred on June 1, 2026, in Obanleku Community, Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, when the victim, Nancy Peter, a secondary school pupil, was taken to the residence of Pastor Roman Samson Okoye, the General Overseer of Goodness of Jesus Ministry in Wula, by her mother, Agnes Peter, following allegations of theft.

The tragedy began when Agnes Peter discovered that the N30,000 she had kept at home was missing and accused her daughter of taking it, with a source at the Homicide Section of the Cross River State Police Command explaining that the mother took the teenager to the pastor’s house for discipline. “The woman complained that she had kept N30,000 at home and could not find the money when she needed it. She accused her daughter of stealing the money,” the source said. The mother left the girl with the pastor and went home, but by the time she returned, the pastor had allegedly flogged the girl with a horsewhip and was taking her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

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Agnes Peter, a mother of three, insisted she did not ask the pastor to beat her daughter, claiming she only wanted the cleric to counsel and pray for the girl. “It is true that I took my daughter to the pastor after I discovered that my N30,000 was missing from where I kept it. That was not the first time my daughter had stolen my money, and it was not the first time I reported her to the pastor,” she said. Agnes narrated that while at the pastor’s house, the teenager confessed to stealing the money and told her mother she had hidden it in one of her trousers. “That was when I quickly stood up to go and confirm where she kept the money, and I found my N30,000 in the pocket of one of her trousers. The pastor had not beaten her when I left to search for the money. It was while I was returning that I saw him rushing my daughter to the hospital. I met him on the way,” she explained. “I didn’t tell him to kill my daughter. I have reported her to the pastor before, and I only wanted him to scold and counsel her. I was not there when he beat my daughter. I only saw him taking her to the hospital,” she lamented.

Pastor Samson, however, gave a conflicting account, claiming the mother asked him to beat the teenager. The 45-year-old cleric, who is the founder of Goodness of Jesus Ministry in Wula, Boki LGA, said he had known the family for about four years and had supported them after the mother had marital problems. “When the woman came, she had nothing. She was rejected by her husband with two children. I began to fund their schooling and upkeep,” he said. The pastor alleged that Nancy had repeatedly stolen from her mother, with incidents reported to him more than 20 times. “On the day she brought the girl to my house, she complained that she had stolen her money again. She also complained that her daughter was in the habit of sleeping away from home. She told me that the girl stole her N30,000 and asked me to beat her. She also said she had already beaten her but wanted me to beat her as well,” he claimed. The pastor admitted using a horsewhip on the teenager but insisted he never intended to kill her. “I went for my horsewhip and started beating her. I only gave her about 13 to 15 strokes when I discovered that the girl became very weak. I quickly rushed her to the hospital, but she died by the time we got there,” he said. Visibly remorseful, Samson expressed regret over the incident: “I feel very sad. I didn’t want to kill her. It was her mother who insisted that I must beat her. She was like a daughter to me.”

The spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, ASP Ewa Eitokpah Sunday, confirmed the arrest of both suspects and assured that a thorough investigation was ongoing to ensure justice is served. “The Cross River State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Rashid Afegbua, assures residents of its commitment to sustaining the ongoing offensive against criminality and dismantling all criminal networks operating within the state,” the police spokesperson stated. The incident has triggered outrage within the community and beyond, with residents demanding justice for the teenager.

“I Gave Her 15 Strokes” – Pastor Confesses to Flogging 13-Year-Old to Death

JUST IN: Nigerian Army redeploys 18 generals in nationwide shake-up (Full list)

The Nigerian Army has announced a major redeployment of 18 senior generals to strategic operational, command, training and administrative positions as part of efforts to strengthen leadership, enhance operational effectiveness and improve the country’s response to evolving security threats.

The postings, approved by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, were disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele.

According to the Army, the redeployment affects General Officers Commanding (GOCs), commanders of operational formations, heads of military training institutions and principal staff officers at Army Headquarters, and is aimed at reinvigorating leadership across critical commands.

“The postings are part of the Nigerian Army’s deliberate efforts to strengthen command structures, enhance operational efficiency and reposition the service for greater effectiveness in addressing contemporary and emerging security challenges,” the statement said.

Among the key appointments, Major General WM Dangana was named General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, succeeding Major General EF Oyinlola.

Similarly, Major General EI Okoro was appointed General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander of Joint Task Force South-South Operation DELTA SAFE, taking over from Major General EE Emeka.

The Army also redeployed Major General JR Lar as Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, while Brigadier General OM Oyekola was appointed Acting Military Secretary (Army). Brigadier General I Waziri retained his position as Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff.

Other operational appointments include Brigadier General IB Buhari as Commander, Headquarters 63 Brigade, and Brigadier General K Rabiu as Commander, Headquarters 31 Artillery Brigade.

As part of efforts to strengthen emerging military capabilities, Major General SA Emmanuel was appointed Commander, Nigerian Army Space Command, while Major General O Adegbe was posted to Defence Headquarters as Director of Intelligence and Security.

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The redeployment also affected key military training institutions across the country.

Under the new postings, Major General KE Chigbu becomes Deputy Commandant, National Defence College, Major General SD Makolo takes over as Commandant, Nigerian Army Armour School, while Major General SO Adejimi was appointed Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport.

Also, Major General FS Etim will serve as Chief of Training at Headquarters, Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army (TRADOC NA), while Brigadier General U Ahmad assumes office as Commandant, Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria.

Beyond operational and training commands, the Army also made fresh appointments into strategic defence-related organisations.

Major General KO Ukandu was named Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Post Housing Development Limited (PHDL), while Major General AI Allison was appointed Managing Director of Defence Properties Limited.

Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the newly posted senior officers to justify the confidence reposed in them by demonstrating exemplary leadership, professionalism, discipline, innovation and commitment in their new assignments.

He also urged them to sustain the momentum in ongoing military operations against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other emerging security threats confronting the country.

The latest redeployment comes as the Nigerian Army intensifies operations across the North-East, North-West, North-Central and South-South theatres, where troops are engaged in counter-insurgency, anti-banditry, anti-kidnapping and anti-oil theft operations.

Military authorities said the periodic redeployment of senior officers is a routine exercise designed to inject fresh ideas into operational commands, strengthen leadership at all levels and improve coordination among formations and units in line with the Army’s transformation agenda.

Full list of major appointments

• Major General WM Dangana – GOC 3 Division Nigerian Army/Commander, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE
• Major General EI Okoro – GOC 6 Division Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force South-South Operation DELTA SAFE
• Major General JR Lar – Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison
• Brigadier General OM Oyekola – Acting Military Secretary (Army)
• Brigadier General I Waziri – Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff
• Brigadier General IB Buhari – Commander, Headquarters 63 Brigade
• Brigadier General K Rabiu – Commander, Headquarters 31 Artillery Brigade
• Major General SA Emmanuel – Commander, Nigerian Army Space Command
• Major General O Adegbe – Director of Intelligence and Security, Defence Headquarters
• Major General KE Chigbu – Deputy Commandant, National Defence College
• Major General SD Makolo – Commandant, Nigerian Army Armour School
• Major General SO Adejimi – Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport
• Major General FS Etim – Chief of Training, Headquarters TRADOC NA
• Brigadier General U Ahmad – Commandant, Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria
• Major General KO Ukandu – Managing Director/CEO, Post Housing Development Limited
• Major General AI Allison – Managing Director, Defence Properties Limited

JUST IN: Nigerian Army redeploys 18 generals in nationwide shake-up (Full list)