Yenagoa — Operatives of the Ekeki Division of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a pastor and his wife in connection with the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Yenagoa, the state capital. The arrest, which occurred during a Sunday service, caused confusion among the congregation. The accused pastor initially escaped through a back door but later surrendered to the police after his wife was taken into custody.
Eyewitnesses reported that the pastor allegedly had sexual intercourse with the 13-year-old girl on church premises and at his home. The victim is identified as the daughter of the pastor’s wife’s cousin. Members of the Women Against Gender-based Violence and Do Foundation, who confirmed the incident, stated that an initial interview with the victim revealed that the rape occurred five times, beginning in November 2025.
According to the advocacy group, the pastor is accused of having “canal knowledge” of the girl when she was sent on errands to deliver local bread to the pastor’s wife. The victim recounted the initial incident, stating, “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.” She further explained, “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.”
It was gathered that the girl’s mother, upon confronting the pastor and his wife, was reportedly persuaded by her sister not to “destroy God’s house.” She was allegedly given N120,000 to procure an abortion for her child, which she did after a scan.
However, the situation escalated during a church service where 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.” Pained by their jubilation, the victim’s mother proceeded to the Ekeki Police Division to file an official report 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 arrests but directed inquiries to the police public relations officer. The Commissioner of Police, Iyamah Edebor, subsequently confirmed the development, assuring that the Ekeki Division has been instructed to transfer the case to the gender unit at the police headquarters for thorough investigation and prosecution.
