A prominent pastor in Anambra State, Harrison Charles, has been arrested over allegations that he lured married women into his congregation and subsequently married some of them.
The arrest was confirmed by the Anambra State Government through the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Media and Publicity, Ejimofor Opara.
According to state authorities, the founder of Day Spring Assembly in Awada, Onitsha, was apprehended by operatives of the state security outfit, Agunechemba, following the circulation of a viral video containing various allegations against him.
The pastor has since been handed over to the police as investigations continue.
The allegations, which have generated widespread reactions on social media, claim that Charles encouraged questionable marital practices within his congregation. Some individuals alleged that he persuaded married women to leave their husbands and become his wives.
Authorities said a joint investigation involving the Anambra State Government and the police has commenced to determine the validity of the claims.
Opara urged members of the public with relevant information to cooperate with investigators.
During the arrest, officials reportedly discovered 11 children at the pastor’s residence. According to authorities, Charles claimed to be the biological father of all the children and stated that they were born by different wives.
He reportedly told investigators that he could not immediately determine the total number of wives he had married or the number of children he had fathered.
The arrest comes amid the Anambra State Government’s ongoing efforts to regulate religious activities and clamp down on practices considered unlawful under the state’s Homeland Security Law.
The development follows recent legal action against several clerics accused of staging fake miracles and other alleged violations of state laws.
Police authorities have yet to announce any formal charges against the pastor, while investigations into the allegations remain ongoing.
