YENAGOA, Bayelsa – Drama erupted at a local church in Yenagoa on Sunday as police operatives stormed the sanctuary mid-service to arrest a presiding pastor and his wife over the alleged serial rape and impregnated of a 13-year-old girl.
The arrest, executed by officers from the Ekeki Division, followed a harrowing petition detailing months of systemic abuse and a subsequent cover-up involving a paid illegal abortion. The suspects are currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) as the community reels from the scandal.
the allegations of abuse
According to police sources and the victim’s testimony, the abuse began in late 2025. The minor, whose identity is being shielded, alleged that the pastor intercepted her on five separate occasions under the guise of receiving bread deliveries for the church.
“He would ask me to bring the delivery inside the church hall, lock the door, and then attack me,” the victim reportedly told investigators. The assaults allegedly continued until the minor discovered she was pregnant, at which point the pastor’s wife reportedly intervened—not to seek justice, but to conceal the crime.
the n120,000 cover-up
Investigative leads suggest that upon learning of the pregnancy, the pastor’s wife allegedly facilitated an illegal abortion to protect her husband’s reputation and the ministry. She is accused of paying the sum of N120,000 to a quack clinic in the state capital to terminate the five-month-old pregnancy.
The case reportedly came to light after the victim’s health deteriorated following the procedure, leading to a confession. The mother of the girl, distraught by the revelation, petitioned the police, leading to the dramatic Sunday morning sting operation.
police response and transfer
The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed that the case has been officially transferred to the Gender Unit for specialized investigation. Police spokesperson, SP Asinim Butswat, noted that the medical reports are being processed and that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
“The Command has a zero-tolerance policy for gender-based violence and the defilement of minors,” a senior officer at the Ekeki Division stated. “The fact that this was allegedly perpetrated by those in positions of spiritual authority makes it even more egregious.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, the church remains shuttered, and representatives for the embattled couple have not yet issued a formal legal defense.
