Police operatives from Rumuji Police Division on Thursday 6,July 2023 arrested one Mr. Pillar, the resident Pastor of Gracious Covenant Church in Ndele community, Emohua Local Government Area for allegedly defiling, impregnating fifteen year old girl.
We gathered that the arrest followed a compliant made by Mr Amesi ThankGod, an in-law to the fifteen year old girl.
In an interview with Journalists, Mr. ThankGod said “If her mother go to farm, the girl normally goes to the church to relax, then comes back at evening .In last few days the fifteen year old girl was vomiting, before my wife (her elder sister) took her to for medical test, after testing her, the result show she is pregnant, that is how we knew”.
Explaining further, Mr ThankGod said the Pastor reportedly threatened the 15 year old girl not to tell anyone, that if she does, he will kill her.
Mr ThankGod stated that upon discovery that the teenage girl was pregnant, the elder sister of survivor took her to Pastor Pillar who reportedly agreed to be responsible for the pregnancy.
Mr ThankGod revealed that, Pastor Pillar pleaded with the elder sister of the teenage survivor for him to give her an abortion drug that will flush out the pregnancy but the family of the girl resisted his suggestion.
He disclosed that the teenage girl is not strong, she is sick and it is her mother or her elder sister who is dressing her up and bathing her as a result of the pregnancy.
Meanwhile reports available to our reporter indicated that the suspect was taken into protective custody by local vigilante group in Ndele when the 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 human rights advocacy group Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign has called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The Group in a statement by it’s National Coordinator, Prince Wiro urged the Police to carryout their investigation without bias or sentiment and if the suspect is found culpable in the course of investigation, he should be arraigned in court.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police command SP Grace Iringe Koko is yet to speak on the incident.