A pastor of the Gracious Covenant Church, identified simply as Pillar, has landed in police net for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old girl (name withheld) in Rivers state.
The State police command confirmed the arrest of the clergyman in Ndele community, Emohua Local Government Area.
It was learnt that police arrested Pastor Pillar following a complaint by an in-law of the victim, Amesi ThankGod, who said the minor and her mother were members of his church.
According to ThankGod, the minor usually visits the church to relax whenever her mother goes to the farm, but as time went on, they notice that a strange behaviour in the minor.
He said that they tried to get to the bottom of the matter, so his wife took her sister (the girl’s mother) to Pillar to confront him with the allegation, and he admitted to being responsible for the pregnancy.
The pastor, however pleaded for them to allow him to get rid of the pregnancy but the family objected.
ThankGod said; “If her mother goes to the farm, the girl normally goes to the church to relax and returns in the evening. But in the last few days, the girl started vomiting. My wife, who is the victim’s elder sister, took her for a medical examination and the result showed she is pregnant.
“But he (pastor) said they should give her some drugs to flush the pregnancy so that the girl will be free. But if we allow that the girl may die and we have ourselves to blame.”
He said the matter was reported to a vigilante group that handed the suspect over to the Rumuji Police Division.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident and said an investigation has been launched into the matter.
The spokersperson said; “Yes, we are aware of the incident. The suspect has been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.”