Pastor Harrison Charles of Day Spring Assembly in Awada, Onitsha, Anambra State, has been arrested over allegations that he took dozens of married women from their husbands and made them his wives.
The arrest follows viral social media posts containing accusations and testimonies from individuals who claimed to be victims or relatives of victims. Some alleged that the cleric engaged in wife-swapping practices among members of his church and also took other men’s wives for himself.
The allegations surfaced amid the Anambra State Government’s ongoing crackdown on suspected fake pastors, which recently led to the arraignment of eight clerics.
A media aide to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Dr. Ejimofor Opara, said in a Facebook post that the pastor was arrested by operatives of Agunechemba and handed over to the police for investigation.
According to Opara, a joint investigation involving the Anambra State Police Command and the state government has commenced.
He also disclosed that 11 babies were found in the pastor’s residence during his arrest. The cleric reportedly claimed to be the father of the children and said they were born by 11 of his wives.
The pastor further claimed that he could not state the exact number of wives or children he had.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Security, Prince Ken Emeakayi, has called on anyone with additional information or testimonies relating to the allegations to come forward and assist the ongoing investigation.