Another pastor arrested for defiling 14-year old church member in Ogun

By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta

Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 38 years old pastor, Israel Adebayo for defiling a 14 years old member of his church (name withheld) in Agbado area of the state.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), stated this in a statement on Sunday.

Oyeyemi said the 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 by the mother of the victim,  who reported that while she traveled to treat herself of certain ailment, her daughter who happened to be a choir member in the church was lured by the pastor into his room and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. 

“Upon the report, the DPO Agbado Division detailed his detectives to the scene where the Pastor was promptly arrested. 

“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 is continuously 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. 

“The victim who claimed that the pastor was the first person to sleep with her is currently recuperating in an hospital. 

“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole has ordered the transfer of the case to state Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation and possible prosecution.

“The CP also warned parents to stop the habit of covering anybody who indecently assaulted their daughters no matter how close they are to such persons as they too may be liable for prosecution for compounding felony,” the statement said.