Operatives of the Ekeki Division of the Bayelsà State Police Command have arrested a pastor and his wife over their alleged involvement in the rape of a 13-year-old girl (names withheld) in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The arrest, which was carried out during Sunday service, threw the congregation into confusion, with the accused pastor escaping through the back door but later submitting himself to the police following the arrest of his wife.
Eyewitnesses told newsmen that the pastor allegedly had sexual knowledge of the 13-year-old girl in the church premises and at his home.
The girl was said to be the daughter of his wife’s cousin.
Also, members of the Women Against Gender based Violence and Do Foundation who confirmed the development to newsmen, reported that the initial interview with the victim showed that the rape occurred five times from November, 2025.
According to the advocacy group, the accused pastor was alleged to have had canal knowledge of the girl while on errands to deliver the local bread to the pastor’s wife.
“My mom asked me to deliver ‘Madiga’ to the pastor’s wife, and she was not around. The pastor asked me to come inside and deliver it. He locked the church door and raped me. I screamed, but he didn’t stop.
“It happened five times on different occasions whenever my mom sent me to their house. I was afraid to tell my mom. Not until I could no longer see my monthly flow. I told my mom,” the victim recounted.
It was gathered that the mother, who confronted the pastor and the wife, was convinced by her sister not to destroy God’s house and was reportedly handed N120,000 to procure an abortion for her child, which she did after a scan.
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However, trouble started during one of the church services in which the accused pastor and his wife were heard thanking God for having defeated their enemies who are out to bring the husband and the church down.
The mother of the victim, feeling pained by the jubilation of the accused pastor and his wife, proceeded to the Ekeki Police Division to file an alleged case of rape.
She also contacted the complaint unit of the National Association of Women Against Gender based Violence, led by Dise Harry.
An officer at the Ekeki Police Division confirmed the arrest of the pastor and his wife, but directed this reporter to the police public relations officer for comments.
Contacted on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Iyamah Edebor, confirmed the development and assured that the Ekeki Division of the command has been directed to transfer the case to the gender unit at the police headquarters for proper investigation and prosecution.
