Confusion is playing out between the family of Pa Ohelimo Joseph from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State and his son in-law Pastor Uchenna Joseph, who hails from the same town, over alleged plans by the him to sacrifice their daughter Patience for ritual purposes.
Pastor Joseph and Patience were said to have had their introduction in 2014 and were planning for a church wedding when the wife got pregnant and gave birth to a boy about seven months ago which has put the wedding plans on hold.
But with the present happenings in the family, the couple may have to go their separate ways to give peace a chance. The details of their fight is confusing…
This is because Patience has come out to claim that the pastor was instrumental to the torture she got from a five-man team who, after gang-r*ping her, also attempted to kill her for ritual purposes.
However, the pastor has debunked the allegation describing it as a conspiracy and a ploy to get unnecessary attention from the public as he was yet to complete the required (huge) money meant to pay as dowry on his wife.
According to Vanguard report, the pastor was a spiritual guardian to one of his in-laws Mrs Martins Chinyenren until their relationship turned sour over the allegation by Patience about her husband’s misdemeanor.
According to Mrs. Martins, the couple travelled to Port Hacourt three months ago against the wish of Patience’s parents to visit a pastor friend, Quintus David who was the pastor of a church at No 2, Nwigwe Close, Mercy Land Port Harcourt but after a long stay, they also tried to assist in the growth of the ministry. Along the line, there was communication gap between Patience and her family as she was no longer in touch with them.
According to Mrs. Martins, she got a distress call from Patience one day claiming she had been subjected to inhuman treatment by her husband and his friends and sent the church address in Port Harcourt requesting her to come immediately to her rescue before it was too late.
She traced the church address to a room apartment where she met her sister half dead and she raised the alarm which is presently generating controversies in the families. It was gathered that Patience and er son were returned to Ilisan Remo for medical attention after which the matter was lodged at Ilisan Remo Police Division for investigations but the family is presently accusing the Nigeria Police Force of handling the matter with levity.
However, a source at the Division who pleaded anonymity said the Police was conducting a thorough investigation on the case. “The matter is more of a family issue and the Pastor has been granted bail but we are doing our best to unravel the situation”, the police source said.
With scars all over her body, Patience was, as at last Monday, still undergoing treatment at a private home and battling to regain her health. With much effort, she narrated her journey into the marriage saying she was tortured, gang-r*ped and almost sacrificed for ritual purposes in Port Harcourt.
Her words: “I was a petty trader in Ikorodu town before my marriage while my husband was a full time pastor. In the course of our relationship, I expended all my earnings but this was not in vain as I gave birth to a boy in February 2016. Three months after, my husband suggested we should visit his friend in Port Harcourt to raise fund for my business. During our three months stay, I became a prophetess and also assisted in evangelism.
“But on one fateful day, my husband conspired with his friends to sacrifice me for ritual purposes and my refusal earned me incarceration as they tortured and gang-r*ped me. This took place for a number of days until I reached my sister through a text message and she came to my rescue. They separated me from my son and were about tying me to the ceiling fan when my sister arrived the one-room church.
“My wedding gown and other items were kept for two years as he is yet to complete the dowry.”
