Erongo, Namibia - Erongo Police are investigating possible human trafficking charges against members of the Walvis Bay-based Evangelic Church after removing a 14-year-old orphan from the church premises.
The orphan was brought from the north-central regions by a church member, Vestande Haufiku, who claims to be a prophetess.
Haufiku says she was ordered by God to care for orphans.
The Police were tipped off after it was announced in the church on Sunday that the 14-year-old would be married by a 30-year-old man, who is also a member of the church.
The Police intervened yesterday and removed the girl from the church premises where she had lived with Haufiku.
The girl has been taken to a house of safety and is receiving psychological therapy.
According to the Erongo Police, the girl appears to be brainwashed and believes that the 30-year-old congregant who has been identified as her future husband is indeed her God-given husband.
The Police will also investigate whether the girl has been a victim of statutory rape.
Haufiku says she was barren and God told her if she looked after orphans she would be blessed and fall pregnant.
The girl was brought from the North in September last year and Haufiku says that her barren spell is over and that she recently fell pregnant.
Erongo Police Crime Investigations Co-ordinator Chris Kalumbula says the Police are investigating the role of the church in human trafficking, but no arrests had been made by yesterday.