A 14-year-old boy in Benue State, Nigeria, has shared a disturbing account of being wrongly accused of stealing donations from St. Joseph Parish in Korinya. Aondoakaa Yarkwan’s nightmare began on September 8, 2024, after a thanksgiving service where over N200,000 was collected.
Yarkwan, responsible for securing the donations, was falsely blamed when the money went missing and was replaced with paper scraps. Despite his pleas of innocence, he was subjected to severe physical abuse by church officials and local security personnel.
The torture included slapping, horsewhip beating, and being taken to a forest where thieves are often burned alive. Yarkwan lost consciousness and was later hospitalized, only to find out that the real culprit was a 12-year-old altar boy who had stolen the bulk of the money.
Yarkwan’s mother, Benedicta, expressed outrage over the church’s response, particularly since no apology or offer to cover her son’s medical expenses was made. Instead, the church demanded N80,000 from Yarkwan’s family, despite recovering only N10,000.
The incident has sparked community outrage, with calls for justice and an investigation into the church’s treatment of children. The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Anene Sewuese, claimed unawareness of the case.
This disturbing incident highlights concerns about child abuse and miscarriage of justice within religious institutions.
