TheCable

The Ogun state police command says its operatives have arrested Michael Abiodun, a pastor of The Light House Gospel Church, over alleged rape of a 12-year-old church member.

According to the police, the victim’s mother came to the cleric’s church in order to avert a spiritual problem, which had purportedly led to the death of her two daughters.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, Ogun police spokesperson, in a statement on Friday, said the cleric requested that the victim should come to the church for “special prayer”.

Oyeyemi said when the victim got to the church the cleric forced her into a room within the church where he allegedly raped her.

The Ogun police spokesperson said the cleric was arrested after the police received a complaint and he later confessed to the crime, blaming the devil for his action.

“On the fateful day, the pastor — a father of three — asked the victim’s mother to send her (referring to the victim) to him for special prayer,” Oyeyemi said.

“But on getting there, the pastor took her into a room within the church and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her which resulted in pregnancy.

“Upon the information, the DPO Owode Egba division, CSP Olasunkanmi Popoola, detailed his detectives to the scene where the randy pastor was promptly arrested.

“On interrogation, he confessed to the commission of the crime but blamed it on the devil. He further confessed that he was the person who deflowered the victim who was a JSS 2 student.

“The mother of the victim explained to the police that since her daughter has not been menstruating before, it was difficult for her to know that she was pregnant until seven months after.

“The victim, who was delivered of a baby three months ago, informed the police that she was threatened by the pastor of dire consequences if she informed anybody about what happened between them, and that was the reason she didn’t inform her mother.”