‘I gave her 15 strokes, then she became weak’- Nigerian pastor accused of flogging teen to death

A 45-year-old pastor in Cross River State has admitted using a horsewhip on a 13-year-old girl shortly before she died after being accused of stealing N30,000.

The victim, Nancy Peter, was allegedly flogged to death after her mother, Agnes Peter, took her to the pastor over the missing money.

The pastor, Roman Samson, founder and General Overseer of Goodness of Jesus Ministry in Obanleku Community, Boki Local Government Area, has been arrested alongside the girl’s mother.

According to reports, the incident began on June 1, 2026, after Agnes discovered that N30,000 she kept at home was missing.

She reportedly accused her daughter of stealing the money and took her to the pastor’s house.

A source at the Homicide Section of the Cross River State Police Command said Agnes left the teenager with the pastor and returned home, Vanguard disclosed.

“The woman took her 13-year-old daughter to her pastor’s house for stealing. She 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 woman left the poor girl with the pastor and went home. By the time she returned, the pastor had flogged the girl to death with a horsewhip.

“He took her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source said.

But Agnes, who is now in police custody, insisted she did not ask the pastor to kill her daughter.

According to her, she only took Nancy to the pastor for counselling and prayers because the girl had allegedly stolen from her before.

“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,” she said.

“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.

“That day, I took her to my pastor’s house when she refused to disclose where she kept my money. While we were at the pastor’s house, she confessed to stealing the money and even told me that she kept it in one of her trousers.

“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 where she said she kept the money. It was while I was returning that I saw him rushing my daughter to the hospital. I met him on the way.

“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 to death. I only saw him taking her to the hospital,” she added.

Pastor Samson, however, gave a different account, claiming the mother asked him to beat the teenager.

He said he had known the family for about four years and had supported them after the mother allegedly separated from her husband.

According to him, Nancy had repeatedly been reported to him for stealing her mother’s money.

“I started my own ministry some years back. I met Mrs Peter about four years ago when she had a misunderstanding with her husband. She had three children for the husband, but she was sent away by the man.

“When the woman came, she had nothing. She was rejected by her husband with two children. I began to fund their schooling and upkeep.

“God answered the woman’s prayer through me, and she started selling fish. The girl had been stealing her mother’s money. Each time she complained, I would appeal to her to remain calm. I would call the girl and scold her. That happened more than twenty times,” he said.

The pastor admitted that on the day of the incident, he used a horsewhip on the girl.

“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.

“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.

Samson said he regretted the incident, insisting that he did not intend to kill the teenager.

“I feel very sad. I didn’t want to kill her. It was her mum who insisted that I must beat her. She was like a daughter to me,” he said.

Nancy’s death has triggered outrage in the community, with residents demanding justice for the teenager.

The spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, confirmed the arrest of both suspects.

He said investigation was ongoing and assured that the command would ensure justice in the matter.

“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 and its environs,” he said.

The command urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to help safeguard lives and property.