Nigeria police in Delta state have arrested a self styled Bishop for the alleged rape of a 19 yr old during deliverance service in his church.
Bishop Elijah Orhonigbe was arrested by police detectives for alleged rape on Friday, June 5, 2020 and detained at the Police A division in Warri.
The Bishop’s arrest was confirmed by Warri Area commander of the Nigeria police, ACP Mohammed Garba who said the arrest was effected after the mother of the victim laid a complaint about the alleged rape at the station.
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According to ACP Garba, the complainant is a member of the church of the accused Bishop.
“She said the pastor had a dream that death was hovering in their house and for peace to reign, she should bring her daughter, Miracle for prayers (deliverance).
“The woman brought the lady to the church pastor. I think what really happened is that the pastor drugged that lady and raped her. I personally took the lady to the hospital because she was in a coma for two(2) days.
We were looking for this pastor for the past three weeks. We later traced him to where he was hiding and I got him arrested, and we are charging him to court now. This is somebody that I arrested since Friday. He has been in cell since Friday, Saturday, Sunday and today-Monday. I am charging him to court.”
“We have the pictures. We have examined the victim. I took her to the doctor. He has examined her private parts, and we have everything to charge this man to court.” he said further.
The police boss also denied rumours that he had been offered money to sweep the matter under the carpet.
“I did not demand a dime from him and I will not collect a dime from him. He must face the wrath of the law.”
The accused, Bishop Elijah Orhonigbe denied the alleged rape to newsmen as he was being taken to court. ‘I did not rape her’, he said.
“She came to church on that faithful day, the 20th of May. The mother brought her to the church for deliverance and I prayed for her in front of the altar in the presence of three people. Immediately after the prayer, she left the church. That was around to 12. She came back 5 ‘o’clock with policemen and some crowd, saying ‘this is the man.’ I did not rape her.” he said further.
Narrating her ordeal to newsmen, the victim said she had been a member of the church while growing up but stopped attending for some time although her mother continued to attend.
She said the Bishop asked her mother to bring her in for deliverance.
On getting there the Bishop told her that she had sex with a yahoo boy and she had been cleaned up with a white handkerchief for ritual purposes.
She thereafter alleged that the Bishop gave her olive oil to put in her private part and also have her some to drink before asking her to strip and lie down in the church hall with doors and windows closed.
“He started having sex with me through the back. That was all I could remember. There was sperm all over my body. I shouted. He even said I should come again.” she said
She thereafter demanded justice saying;
“I want to be the last he will do this to.”
The mother of the victim confirmed the story of her daughter and demanded that justice should be done.
“They didn’t give me a dime. I don’t want to collect any money. I want justice.” she reiterated