Pastor ‘rapes’ teenage chorister in Ogun

A 38-year-old Pastor in Ogun State, Israel Adebayo, has been arrested by the Police for allegedly raping a 14 year-old member of the choir in the church.

The police command had on Friday arrested a 48-year-old pastor, Michael Abiodun, who allegedly defiled and impregnated a 12-year-old member of his church at Owode Egba in Obafemi-Owode LGA.

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The Police Spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Sunday, said another pastor had been caught in the act of alleged rape.

Oyeyemi said Pastor who is the General Overseer of “The Beloved Chapel ” situated at No 9, Iyaniwura street, off Owonikoko street Agbado area of Ogun state was arrested following a complaint lodged at Agbado divisional headquarters.

He said the mother of the victim told the police that while she was away from home for treatment of an ailment, her daughter went to the Church, but ‘fell’ into the hands of the Pastor who “lured her into his room and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.”

The Police Spokesman said operatives from Agbado division, immediately stormed the scene and arrested the Pastor.

He said the cleric when interrogated admitted and pleaded for forgiveness.

“On interrogation, the Pastor who admitted defiling the victim pleaded for forgiveness. According to him, his family and that of the victim are so close, but he didn’t know how and why such thing happened to him.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect would have been arrested long ago, but the mother of the victim frustrated the move because she doesn’t want to offend her Pastor. But when the victim continued bleeding from her private part since the incident which happened October 2021, she was left with no other option than to allow Police come into the matter,” he said.

Oyeyemi explained that victim who claimed that the Pastor was the first person to have sex with her “is currently recuperating in a hospital.”

He quoted the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole to have ordered the transfer of the case to state Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation and possible prosecution.

He added that the CP also warned parents to stop the habit of covering up suspects “who indecently assaulted their daughters no matter how close they are to such person, as they too may be liable for prosecution for compounding felony.”