Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 50-year-old self-styled prophet, Nicholas Nusa, over the alleged abduction and sexual abuse of five female children in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state, in a case that has once again exposed the vulnerability of minors to predatory figures cloaked in religious authority. Nusa, who is the founder and overseer of Divine Grace Church along Imoga Road in Ibillo, was apprehended following actionable intelligence received by the command on September 12, 2026, and has since confessed to the offences during preliminary investigation, according to the police.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Edo State Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed the development during a press briefing on behalf of the Commissioner of Police. She said the command received information about the alleged abduction of the children from the Ibillo and Imoga axis of Akoko-Edo LGA on September 12, and following police intervention, the suspect was arrested. Preliminary investigation revealed that the five girls were taken from the two communities at different times between September 2025 and April 2026 and kept at the suspect's private residence. During that period, the girls were allegedly sexually abused, and one of them, a 15-year-old, was impregnated. The teenager went into early labour and underwent a Caesarean section. The victim lost the baby after surgery.
The police said the 15-year-old is currently receiving medical attention at a hospital and has been placed under the care of the Brave Heart Organisation, a non-governmental organisation providing support to survivors of abuse. The remaining four victims have been reunited with their respective families. Ikoedem said efforts were ongoing to ensure the welfare of the victims while the investigation into the case continued. "The children have been reunited with their families and the suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation," the police stated. Nusa allegedly admitted to the offences during questioning, though the police have not disclosed the specific details of his confession or the exact nature of the abuse each victim endured.
The case raises troubling questions about how a man could allegedly abduct and hold five girls in his residence over a period of eight months without detection or intervention. Akoko-Edo is a rural local government area in Edo North, where access to schools, law enforcement and child protection services is limited. The suspect's status as a self-styled prophet and church overseer may have afforded him a veneer of respectability that allowed him to operate with minimal scrutiny. His arrest follows a broader pattern of cases in which religious leaders and individuals in positions of trust have been accused of exploiting minors. In July 2026, the Edo State Police Command arrested a 54-year-old man and a stepfather over alleged child abduction and defilement in separate incidents. The command has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and ensuring that perpetrators of sexual violence face the full weight of the law.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has previously identified Edo State as a hotspot for child trafficking and exploitation, with Akoko-Edo among the local government areas from which children are trafficked to other parts of Nigeria and beyond. The agency has worked with state authorities to strengthen child protection mechanisms, but the persistence of cases like this one suggests that gaps remain. Community vigilance, improved reporting mechanisms and stronger enforcement of child rights laws are essential to preventing future abuses.
For the victims and their families, the arrest of the suspect brings a measure of relief, but the trauma of the experience will not disappear with a single arrest. The 15-year-old who lost her baby after a Caesarean section faces a long road to physical and emotional recovery. The four other girls must also be supported as they reintegrate into their families and communities. The Brave Heart Organisation's involvement in caring for the teenager is a reminder that survivors of sexual violence require comprehensive support, including medical care, counselling and legal assistance. The police have said the investigation is ongoing and the suspect will be charged to court upon its conclusion. Nusa remains in custody and is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The case has reignited calls for stronger protection of children in Edo State and across Nigeria, where sexual violence against minors remains a persistent crisis. According to UNICEF, one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria experience sexual violence before the age of 18. Many cases go unreported due to stigma, fear of reprisals and a lack of trust in the justice system. The Edo State Police Command's decision to publicise the arrest and provide details of the investigation is a welcome step toward transparency, but it must be followed by a thorough prosecution and a commitment to addressing the systemic failures that allow predators to operate unchecked. For now, five families have been reunited with their daughters, but the scars of the past eight months will remain. The police have promised that the suspect will face the full weight of the law, and the public will be watching to see that justice is delivered.
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