By Rhoda Godwin
…Impregnation of 13-Year-Old Girl
Yenagoa, Bayelsa – Operatives from the Ekeki Division of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a pastor accused of raping and impregnating a 13-year-old girl (name withheld) in Yenagoa, the state capital.The dramatic arrest occurred during a Sunday service, sparking confusion among congregants.
The pastor reportedly fled through the back door but surrendered to the Ekeki Police Station after his wife was detained.Eyewitnesses disclosed that the cleric allegedly had carnal knowledge of the girl—identified as the daughter of his wife’s cousin—multiple times on church premises and at his home.
According to the victim’s initial interview shared by advocacy groups, the assaults began in November 2025 while she ran errands delivering “madiga” (local bread) to the pastor’s wife. The abuse reportedly occurred five times.The victim’s mother confronted the pastor and his wife, but her sister urged her not to “destroy God’s house.” The family allegedly received N120,000 to fund an abortion, which was carried out following a medical scan.
The matter escalated when the mother reported the incident to the Ekeki Police Division and contacted the complaint unit of the National Association of Women Against Gender-Based Violence (NAWAGBV), led by Barr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry. Members of Women Against Gender-Based Violence and Do Foundation confirmed the details to journalists.
Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Iyamah Daniel Edebor, verified the arrest and directed the Ekeki Division to transfer the case to the Gender Unit at police headquarters for thorough investigation and prosecution.The incident has raised fresh concerns over child safety in religious settings amid ongoing advocacy for stronger protections against gender-based violence.
