A Nigerian pastor and his wife have come under fire after a viral video surfaced online, showing them publicly disciplining a woman in church. The woman was reportedly punished for allegedly allowing her child to wander around the premises during a church service, an act the pastor deemed unacceptable.
The shocking incident was captured in a video currently making rounds on X, formerly known as Twitter, sparking a heated debate on discipline, religious authority, and personal boundaries within places of worship.
In the footage, the pastor is seen wielding a cane and flogging the woman as she cries out in pain. Instead of stopping there, he then hands the cane over to another woman, believed to be his wife, who continues administering the punishment. The act was carried out in full view of the congregation, adding to the controversy surrounding the incident.
The video’s circulation has triggered mixed reactions, with many condemning the pastor’s actions as excessive and abusive, while a few others defended it as a measure of church discipline. The debate has raised questions about the extent of authority religious leaders should exercise over their members and whether such public disciplinary measures should be tolerated in modern society.
See some reactions below:
@neyenwa_: “I think the poster said she beat her child for running around during service, and the pastor decided to do this nonsense. Either way, I see no reason why an adult will be subjected to this nonsense.”
@DrMel_: “Join stupid churches, experience stupid situations. They said they’ll flog you and you actually brought out your hand? lol.”
@Odebunmi_Mide: “Very good pastor💯I love this church, very disciplined ❤️What is that on mama’s head?”
@_Bigsub: “Person wife??? E be like the husband no come church. Madness dey worry that establishment.”
@ogunmowola: “Wait a second, the pastor and his wife flogged the lady? A grown-up woman? E better be skit sha.”
@annoky: “Just to remain sane, I just conclude some crazy things I see online are skits cos how? Why? From where to where?”
The video has since sparked widespread conversations about power dynamics in religious institutions, with many arguing that such actions should not be condoned under any circumstances. Others have questioned why the woman did not resist and whether she was pressured into accepting the punishment.
Many social media users are now calling for investigations into the church’s disciplinary practices, with some even urging authorities to intervene to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
WATCH VIDEO
Her child was running around in church, disturbing the service, and the Pastor decided to flog the mother. pic.twitter.com/rniWvoNJEu
— 𝔏𝔲𝔰𝔥 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔭𝔢𝔯𝔣𝔲𝔪𝔢 𝔭𝔩𝔲𝔤🫧 (@ms___dale) March 19, 2025
