Kanyi Okeke
Sapele-Police in Edo State have arrested a pastor who allegedly raped a 12-year-old choir member of his church at Afuda in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of the state.
Some residents of the area, who were infuriated by the incident, have destroyed some church equipment, while the pastor was detained at the Uromi Police Divisional headquarters and is undergoing interrogation.
Narrating her ordeal to newsmen Tuesday, the victim said she had gone to church for choir rehearsals when the pastor grabbed her and had carnal knowledge of her in his office.
She said herself and three other children were in the church awaiting the arrival of other members, when the pastor and founder of the church drove into the premises and asked of their names.
She said after they had given their names, the pastor called her into his office, asked her to sit on his laps and later raped her. She said the incident made her bleed.
Father of the victim, an operator of a rental service, told newsmen that he was barely two months old as a member of the church.
He noted with regret how joining the church had caused him pains, because he never expected that his daughter could undergo such unfortunate experience.
He appealed to government and the police to ensure that justice was done in the case to serve as a deterrent to other randy pastors.
Source: VanguardNewspaper
