Ogun State Police Command is searching for a pastor named Onyekachi Okoli who is suspected of raping a 16-year-old girl in the Mowe community of the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area during a deliverance prayer.
The incident was confirmed by Omolola Odutola, the state police command’s spokesperson.
On September 14, 2024, the pastor of Adoration Fire Ministry named Emmanuel James, sent out an invitation to the survivor for a revival programme in the town.
During the revival session, on September 16, 2024, at around midnight, Okoli, a guest preacher and pastor from Delta State, allegedly approached the survivor and said she needed deliverance, which could only be done in his hotel, where he was staying.
It was revealed that the suspect lured the survivor to his hotel room, whereupon she was coerced into the bed and sexually assaulted during the deliverance prayer session.
According to information obtained, the victim allegedly suffered from excruciating agony during the pastor’s alleged attack, which led to a substantial loss of blood from uncontrollable bleeding.
Odutola said, “The survivor reported the crime at the Mowe Division on September 19, 2024, stating that she had been invited to the church for a revival, where the guest minister informed her that she needed deliverance.
“The suspect invited her to the hotel where he was staying. During the deliverance session, he allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim, causing her to bleed.
“Our officers were sent to the church, where the pastor was brought in for questioning. He confirmed that the church had invited the suspect as a guest minister for the revival, but he was unaware that the suspect had committed any crime before returning to Delta State.”
Odutola stated that the police investigation into the case was still in progress and that the pastor of the church had agreed to bring the suspect in for questioning.
On April 23, 2024, pastor Monday Ogunyomi of the God Foundation Spiritual Church of Christ, Ibùdó Aseyori of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Osioyemi Eleweran, Abeokuta, was involved in an incident similar to the one reported.
Following a cleansing prayer on the church grounds, he was accused of raping a 25-year-old lady, which led to his imprisonment.
Before initiating a prayer session intended to assist the victim in overcoming her nightmares via spiritual deliverance, the pastor reportedly stripped off and gave her instructions to take off her clothing.
