Rumuji Police Division has arrested fifty-five (55) years old resident Pastor of Glorious Covenant Church, Ndele community, in Emohua local government area of Rivers State on Thursday, 6 July 2023, for allegedly defiling and impregnating a fifteen-year-old girl.
It was gathered that the Pastor’s arrest followed a complaint made by Amesi ThankGod, an inlaw to the fifteen-year-old girl.
In an interview with Journalists, ThankGod narrated that the girl in question always goes to the Church to relax till evening when the mother returns from the farm.
“In the last few days, the girl had been vomiting before my wife, her elder sister, took her for a medical test, and the result revealed she was pregnant; that was how we got to know about it.
Explaining further, ThankGod said the Pastor reportedly threatened the 15-year-old girl not to tell anyone he would kill her if she did.
He disclosed that upon discovery the teenage girl was pregnant, the elder sister took her to the Pastor, who agreed to be responsible for the pregnancy.
According to him, the suspect pleaded with his wife for him to give her an abortion drug to flush out the pregnancy, but the girl’s family refused his suggestion.
He said the girl in question is critically sick and has been taken care of by her mother and elder sister, who now dresses her up and bathes her as a result of the pregnancy.
Our Correspondent gathered that the suspect was taken into protective custody by a local vigilante group in Ndele when the news of the incident spread in the community to prevent mob action on the suspect before the personnel of Rumuji Police Division came for his arrest.
Meanwhile, in a statement by the National Coordinator Human Rights Advocacy Group, Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Prince Wiro has called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
He urged the Police to investigate without bias or sentiment, and if the suspect is found guilty in the course of the investigation should be arraigned in court.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police command, SP Grace Iringe Koko, is yet to speak on the incident.
