The Nasarawa State Police command on Monday arrested a 46
year-old pastor, Ifeanyi Bernard, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in
the Karu Local Government Area of the state.
year-old pastor, Ifeanyi Bernard, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in
the Karu Local Government Area of the state.
According to police authorities, the alleged rape took place
on November 3 when the pastor was performing deliverance on the teenager.
on November 3 when the pastor was performing deliverance on the teenager.
However, the pastor described the incident as the handiwork
of the devil.
of the devil.
While parading the suspect at the Criminal Investigative
Department, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sani Mohammed, said the suspect was
apprehended following a report by the father of the victim, Mr. Martins Ijiwo.
Department, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sani Mohammed, said the suspect was
apprehended following a report by the father of the victim, Mr. Martins Ijiwo.
According to the police, the cleric, who lives in the
Alikima Mararaba area of the state, lured the victim into his house under the
pretext of casting out demons from her.
Alikima Mararaba area of the state, lured the victim into his house under the
pretext of casting out demons from her.
The police boss said the cleric allegedly pushed her to his
bed and raped her repeatedly.
bed and raped her repeatedly.
The commissioner said the suspect threatened to kill the
victim if she reported the incident to any member of her family.
victim if she reported the incident to any member of her family.
However, when the father of the girl learnt of the incident,
he reported the matter to the police. The police subsequently stormed the
pastor’s home and arrested him.
he reported the matter to the police. The police subsequently stormed the
pastor’s home and arrested him.
Policemen also recovered bottles of anointing oil from the
suspect’s home as well as a bedspread.
suspect’s home as well as a bedspread.
The CP said, “The pastor took advantage of his closeness to
the girl’s family – who are members of his congregation – to rape their
13-year-old daughter under the guise of casting out demons from her.”
the girl’s family – who are members of his congregation – to rape their
13-year-old daughter under the guise of casting out demons from her.”
While speaking with our correspondent at the police command,
the pastor confessed to the crime, adding that he didn’t know what came over
him when he committed the crime.
the pastor confessed to the crime, adding that he didn’t know what came over
him when he committed the crime.
He said, “I had been into evangelism for some years now and
I have been casting out demons from people who have spiritual and family
problems before I met this young girl through her father, Mr. Martins Ijiwo.
I have been casting out demons from people who have spiritual and family
problems before I met this young girl through her father, Mr. Martins Ijiwo.
“I have been a friend of the family for quite some time.
“I used my anointing oil to lure her into my room and all of
a sudden, I was carried away and before I knew what was happening, I saw myself
making love to her.”
a sudden, I was carried away and before I knew what was happening, I saw myself
making love to her.”
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