Nigerian Pastor Arranges Marriage for Non-Verbal Autistic Man Citing ‘Uncontrollable Sexual Urges’ | VIDEO

A Nigerian pastor is at the center of a growing international controversy after arranging a marriage for his non-verbal autistic adopted son, a case that has ignited fierce debate about disability rights, consent, and the limits of pastoral authority. The story revolves around Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, founder of Omega Power Ministries (OPM) in Nigeria. In early 2026, he posted a viral video seeking a wife for a young non-verbal autistic man known as Aboy Chibuzor, whom the pastor refers to as his “adopted autistic son.”

According to the pastor, he has cared for the man since he was abandoned at the church as a child.

In the video, the pastor openly mentioned the man’s “uncontrollable sexual urges,” including frequent masturbation. He pitched the marriage arrangement as a practical solution: a woman who marries Aboy would receive financial support, housing, and a salary from the church. Critics immediately interpreted this as the pastor “pimping out” or exploiting a vulnerable autistic adult for sexual purposes under the guise of marriage and caregiving.

What Actually Happened The pastor faced intense public backlash following the video. Many accused him of lacking any consideration for consent, exploiting the man’s disability, and treating him like a burden to be offloaded onto someone else.

In response, Apostle Chinyere later apologized for how the video was presented, though he maintained his intentions were compassionate. Then, on March 29, 2026, he officiated the wedding of the autistic man to an older single woman. The church provided financial support to the couple afterward.

The pastor has consistently framed the arrangement as an act of compassion and practical help for someone unable to live independently or manage certain urges without support. Key Issues Raised by Critics Disability rights advocates and autism experts have raised several urgent concerns. Consent and capacity: The groom is non-verbal and autistic, requiring daily assistance for basic needs.

Serious questions remain about whether he could meaningfully consent to marriage or sexual relations. In many legal jurisdictions, individuals who cannot understand the nature of marriage are considered incapable of consent. Exploitation concerns: Offering money and benefits to an older woman in exchange for marrying and presumably providing sexual and caregiving “relief” struck many observers as deeply transactional and dehumanizing.

Critics argue this reduces marriage to a commercial arrangement. Dignity of disabled people: Autism advocates argue this case reduces a person with disabilities to nothing more than their sexual needs, rather than treating them with full humanity and appropriate safeguards. One commentator wrote, “He is not a problem to be solved with a wife.”

Power dynamics: As the man’s long-term caregiver and spiritual authority figure, the pastor holds enormous influence over both the groom and potential brides. This power imbalance raises significant ethical red flags. Supporters Defend the Pastor Not everyone condemns the action.

Supporters of the pastor argue he was genuinely trying to provide a stable, supervised home for someone society had abandoned. They note that the marriage includes ongoing church support, not just a one-time transaction. For them, the pastor stepped in where government and social services failed.

Similar Cases Around the World This is not an isolated incident. In the United Kingdom during the 2000s and 2010s, courts handled multiple forced marriage cases involving adults with severe autism and intellectual disabilities. In one notable case, a young man referred to as “IC” was married over the phone to a woman in Bangladesh without his meaningful consent.

UK courts ruled the marriage void, noting it could amount to rape if consummated.

In Tanzania, a 2016 report documented parents arranging sexual partners for women with intellectual disabilities specifically “to take care of her sexual desire.” These arrangements were often framed within family and religious contexts. Perhaps most strikingly, Jean Vanier, founder of the international L’Arche Catholic community supporting people with intellectual disabilities, was revealed in 2020 to have sexually abused at least six women over decades.

That case highlighted systemic vulnerabilities in faith-based disability care settings. Common Patterns Across Cases Several patterns emerge across these incidents. Caregiving becomes a pretext for arranging intimate relationships primarily to manage sexual behaviors.

Consent is consistently challenged, as many individuals with profound autism or intellectual disabilities cannot legally or meaningfully consent. Religious framing is used to justify actions as compassionate or faith-driven while critics highlight dehumanization. The Bottom Line Disability rights advocates emphasize that adults with disabilities deserve supported decision-making, not transactional arrangements.

In many jurisdictions, such setups can violate laws on forced marriage, exploitation, or abuse of vulnerable adults. The case of Aboy Chibuzor is still generating strong reactions across Nigeria and diaspora communities. It forces difficult questions about how society should care for vulnerable adults with profound support needs while protecting their dignity and autonomy.

General Overseer of OPM church, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere shows interest in getting an autistic young man who has been under his care since childhood married. The pastor revealed he will provide the woman with a lifetime monthly salary and lifetime accommodation, as well as pay her… pic.twitter.com/d5PAz1s1bM — 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@Asaky

GRN) March 27, 2026 (If You Like/Appreciate This EURweb Story, Please SHARE it!) MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.

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