UPDATE: Search For Pastor Who Chained Malnourished Boy Begins

A manhunt for the pastor who allegedly chained the emaciated looking nine-year-old boy rescued by NSCDC officers has commenced, Punch reports.

According to the report, officers from the Ogun State Police Command have begun a search for the pastor, who happens to be the boy’s father.

The pastor, who was said to be in charge of Key of Joy Celestial Church of Christ, Ajibawo area in Atan Ota, Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, had reportedly chained his son in a room for over a month.

Sources say that while the pastor remains at large, his wife, who is also the victim’s stepmother, has been arrested.

The NSCDC officers, who rescued the boy on Friday, had reportedly acted on a tip-off from the pastor’s neighbours.

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Abdulmajid Ali, had ordered the arrest of the fleeing pastor.

Adejobi said, “The police operatives, who got a tip-off from a neighbour in the community, swung into action and moved to the said church where the victimised young Korede was chained and rescued him. The stepmother of Korede, Kehinde Taiwo, has been arrested by the police.”

He added that the victim’s stepmother had revealed that Korede’s father had chained and starved the young boy in order to curb his son’s stealing habit.

Adejobi gave the assurance that “Korede has been treated by the police and discharged. He is presently receiving every necessary attention from the police personnel in the Onipanu Division.”

He continued, “The young boy will soon be handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Ogun State for necessary action.”

While condemning the pastor’s criminal and inhuman act, Ali gave the order that the matter be properly investigated and that the victim be given proper medical attention.

He vowed not to spare any parent or individual caught maltreating children or young ones in the state. He further stated that the command had zero tolerance for such criminal and inhuman offences like child abuse, child labour, and domestic violence, among others.