Operatives of the Rumuji Police Division Rivers state on Friday arrested one Pillar, the resident pastor of Gracious Covenant Church in Ndele community in Emohua local government area, for allegedly impregnating a 15-year-old girl.
Blueprint gathered that the arrest followed a complaint made by Mr. Amesi ThankGod, an in-law to the victim.
ThankGod while speaking to newsmen said, “If her mother goes to the farm, the girl normally goes to the church to relax, and then comes back in the evening.
“In the last few days, the 15-year-old girl was seen vomiting before my wife (her elder sister) took her for a medical test. After testing her, the result showed that she was pregnant; that is how we knew about it.
ThankGod said further that the pastor threatened the girl not to tell anyone and that if she did, he would kill her.
He stated that upon discovery that the teenage girl was pregnant, the elder sister took her to Pastor Pillar who reportedly admitted to be responsible for the pregnancy.
Blueprint gathered further that the randy cleric was taken into protective custody by a local vigilante group in Ndele when the news of the incident spread in the community to prevent a mob action.
Meanwhile, a human rights advocacy group, Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, has called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The group, in a statement by its national coordinator, Prince Wiro, urged the Police to carry out their investigation without bias or sentiment.
According to the group, if the suspect is found culpable in the course of the investigation, he should be arraigned in court.
The spokesperson of the Rivers state Command, SP Grace lringe Koko, was yet to comment on the incident as of the time filing in this report.
