Pastor arrested over sexual abuse of 16-year-old girl in Anambra

The General Overseer of ‘Jesus Is Ontop Ministry’, Amichi, in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Evangelist Dozie Ezani, is now in police custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, for alleged serial raping and impregnating a 16-year-old girl in the Amichi area of the state.

It was gathered that the suspect was arrested at his poultry farm in Igboukwu, Aguata LGA of the state by operatives of the Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad, after a credible intelligence gathering and monitoring of his activities.

The Spokesperson for SASA, Karen James, after a cross-examination of the victim at SASA’s headquarters in Onitsha, on Friday, told journalists that the suspect was in the habit of raping the girl in his house and at his church located in Amichi and also at his poultry farm in the neighbouring Igboukwu community.

James said following the arrest of the suspect, he was immediately transferred to the state CID, where further interrogations and investigations are ongoing.

She said, “A security personnel from Igboukwu, where the latest incident occurred, brought in the report of the rape. The security personnel have been observing the suspicious movements of the pastor and the young girl before bringing the report to SASA’s attention.

“On receiving the report, and after due diligence gathering, SASA operatives stormed the church at Igboukwu, on Monday, to arrest the suspect, where he and the victim were brought to the SASA’s office. The suspect was immediately handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, for further investigation.

“During interrogation, the victim said she was formerly residing in Lagos, but her aunt brought her back and handed her over to the pastor for ‘special deliverance’, before the suspect started forcefully having sexual intercourse with her, leading to suspected pregnancy.”