…IGP Disu orders for rearrest, no actionÂ
“When asked about the CCTV footage for that day, the Rev. Father allegedly said the cameras were not turned on that day,” – source.
By Chucks Nwonye and Edwin Chukwudi
There is growing concern and public outrage in Bayelsa State over the alleged disappearance of a one-year-old girl inside a Catholic Church in Yenagoa, with the family accusing the church authorities of shielding those responsible and frustrating police investigation.
The missing child has been identified as Amarachi Blessing Ogbonna, 1 year and 10 months old, daughter of one Mrs. Onyekwere Mary Chisom, who resides in Bayelsa State with her husband.
According to the account narrated by the mother and which is now trending on social media, the incident occurred on June 17, 2026, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, off Tamic Road, Okutukutu, Yenagoa.
Mary said she had gone to church that Sunday morning with her daughter and as was the usual practice, dropped Amarachi at the children’s section before proceeding to the main auditorium for service.
She explained that to get to the children’s section, one must pass through two gates, and the rule in the church is strict, that once a child is dropped off, no one else can pick the child except the person who dropped her, not even the father.
That day, she said there were three Sunday school teachers on duty in the children’s department.
But after service, when she went back to pick her daughter, her child was nowhere to be found.
“On June 17, 2026, Mary got to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, off Tamic Road, Okutukutu, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. She dropped Amarachi at the children’s section like every other Sunday. After service, she went back to pick her daughter. Amarachi was gone. For 2 months now, her mother has not set eyes on her,” the post which called for help stated.
The development has sparked furore and raised serious questions about child safety protocols in religious institutions, with many Nigerians demanding answers on how a child less than two years old could disappear inside a church premises without trace.
Narrating what she described as the most painful part of the ordeal, Mary said she immediately reported the case at Ekeki Police Station in Yenagoa, following which the police arrested the teachers who were on duty that day.
She alleged that Rev. Fr. Paul Ndah, who is said to be in charge of the church, went to the station and secured their release.
According to her, she reported the case again at another police station, where the teachers were re-arrested, but the priest allegedly went again and secured their release a second time.
“Mary reported the case at Ekeki Police Station. The police arrested the teachers on duty. According to Mary, Rev. Fr. Paul Ndah went to the station and secured their release. She reported again at another station, they were re-arrested. Again, he allegedly went and released them,” the account said.
With no progress made in Yenagoa, the distraught mother said she travelled to Abuja to petition the Inspector General of Police. According to her, the IGP reportedly directed that the suspects be re-arrested and the case transferred to Abuja for proper investigation, but till date, nothing has been done.
She further alleged that when she asked about the CCTV footage for that day, the Reverend Father allegedly told her that the cameras were not turned on that day.
“When asked about the CCTV footage for that day, the Rev. Father allegedly said the cameras were not turned on that day,” she said.
Two months after the incident, the whereabouts of little Amarachi Blessing Ogbonna remains unknown, leaving her mother broken and the entire family in deep pain.
“A mother is broken. A family is in pain. A little girl of less than 2 years is missing inside a church and after 2 months, no one is saying anything,” the family lamented.
The incident has triggered widespread calls for intervention, with the family and concerned members of the public calling on the Bayelsa State Police Command and the Commissioner of Police, Adewale Ajao Saka, to intervene and ensure justice is served.
They are also calling on the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, to urgently look into the matter, stressing that two months is too long for a mother not to see her child.
As at the time of filing this report, the Bayelsa State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement on the matter, while the Catholic Diocese of Yenagoa and Rev. Fr. Paul Ndah are yet to publicly respond to the allegations of cover-up and interference with police investigation.
The claims however remain allegations by the family and are yet to be independently verified by the police authorities.
Meanwhile, child rights activists and residents have urged the police to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation, make public the outcome of the probe, and ensure that all persons found culpable are brought to book, while calling on religious organizations to strengthen child protection measures in their premises.
