•How he and wife landed in police ne

Operatives of the Ekeki Division of the Nigeria Police Command in Bayelsa State have arrested a pastor and his wife over their alleged involvement in the rape of a 13 years old girl (names withheld) in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Iyamah Edebor, confirmed the development to newsmen on Monday.

He 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.

Reports say that 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 submitted himself to the Police Station following the arrest of the wife.

Eyewitnesses explained that the pastor allegedly had canal knowledge of the girl in the church premises and at his home.

The girl was said to be the daughter of the wife’s cousin.

The accused pastor was alleged to have had canal knowledge of the girl while on errands to deliver the local bread known as ‘madiga’ to the pastor’s wife.

According to the victim, “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 not see my monthly flow. I told my mom.”

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 given N120,000 to procure an abortion for her child after a scan.

However, the bubble burst when during one of the church services, the accused pastor and his wife were heard thanking God that they have defeated the enemies that are out to bring the husband and the church down.

The mother of the victim, a parishioner, took offence at the jubilation of the accused pastor and his wife.

She subsequently reported the matter to Ekeki Police Division.

She also contacted the complaint unit of the National Association of Women Against Gender based Violence led by Barr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry.

At the Ekeki Police Division on Monday, some church members were discussing the development in hushed tones.

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