The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pledged to ensure justice is served in the disturbing case of a 14-year-old girl who a cleric in Gwagwalada, Abuja allegedly raped. The accused, Pastor Amos Isah of the Prophetic Victory Voice of Fire Ministry, is currently in police custody as investigations intensify.
Dr. Adebayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, made this known during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday. She reaffirmed the administration’s zero-tolerance stance on sexual abuse, particularly when it involves minors. According to her, no individual, regardless of their religious or social status, will be spared if found guilty of child abuse.
The Secretariat is coordinating with security agencies and child protection groups to ensure the survivor receives full legal and psychological support. Benjamins-Laniyi confirmed that a team has already reached out to the girl’s family, offering assurance and care amid the trauma they are experiencing.
“This case will not be swept under the rug. Justice must be served for the survivor and her family. No abuser will escape accountability,” she declared. She further warned that the FCTA would take legal action against anyone found posting the minor’s image on social media, calling such behaviour a form of online harassment. One individual, identified as social media influencer Isaiah Gbangbala, has been called out for allegedly sharing the girl’s photo online, an action condemned by officials as unethical and harmful.
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The young survivor, who is in Senior Secondary School II and active in her church’s media department, is said to have suffered significant emotional and physical trauma. Following the incident, she was admitted to a hospital for treatment. The girl reportedly told authorities that on May 26, Pastor Isah lured her into his office under false pretences, sexually assaulted her, gave her money to buy her silence, and then threatened her life if she spoke out.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rita Emesim also addressed the press, confirming that formal charges will soon be filed against the accused. She explained that because rape is a capital offense, it must be processed through the Federal High Court, requiring a comprehensive and meticulous approach. The case, she emphasised, is being handled with the utmost seriousness.
The FCTA’s swift and coordinated response reflects a growing demand for justice and child protection in Nigeria, where cases of clerical abuse have sparked national outrage. Authorities continue to urge the public to respect the privacy of the victim and to refrain from spreading unverified or harmful content online.
As the investigation moves forward, both the FCTA and the police have vowed to pursue this case to its conclusion, setting a strong precedent for how child sexual abuse cases will be handled in the territory moving forward.
