A 14-year-old boy, Aondoakaa Yarkwan, has shared his painful experience after being wrongly accused of stealing over N200,000 in church donations at St. Joseph Parish, Korinya, Benue State. He recounted how church officials and local security personnel beat him into unconsciousness before it was discovered that a 12-year-old altar boy was the real thief.
The incident took place after a thanksgiving service on September 8, 2024, where the congregation donated more than N200,000 to the church. Yarkwan, who was assigned to guard the money, was blamed when the funds went missing and were replaced with scraps of paper.
Speaking about the ordeal, Yarkwan said, “I was interrogated and taken to the Parish Priest, Rev. Father Emmanuel Doki. When I explained what happened, he slapped me three times, demanding I confess.”
According to Yarkwan, church officials accused him of taking a small amount of N3,000, but he denied involvement in the disappearance of the remaining sum. Despite his denial, he was subjected to severe punishment by the church chairman, Mr. Tartsegha, the catechist, Kumbur, and Deacon Agber. They beat him with a koboko (horsewhip) and then handed him over to the Livestock Guards, a local security group.
Yarkwan described the terrifying experience of being taken to a forest known as Golgotha, where he feared for his life.
“They took me to a forest in Korinya called Golgotha, where they normally burn thieves alive,” he said.
After the brutal beating, Yarkwan lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital by his grandmother.
His mother, Benedicta Yarkwan, expressed her deep concern for her son’s health, saying, “My son is in so much pain. Nobody from the church has apologized or offered to help with his medical bills.”
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Weeks after the incident, a shocking twist occurred when a 12-year-old altar boy confessed to being the real thief. Only N10,000 of the stolen money was recovered, yet the church still demanded Yarkwan’s family pay N80,000 in restitution.
Yarkwan’s mother condemned the church’s decision, stating, “My son can barely breathe, and yet they blamed him for what the 12-year-old boy did.”
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many demanding justice for Yarkwan and calling for an investigation into the mistreatment of vulnerable children. The case highlights concerns over how accusations are handled and the abuse of authority within the church.
When asked about the case, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Anene Sewuese, stated that she was unaware of the incident, saying, “Where did it happen? I’m not aware of this.”