Men of the Akwa Ibom Police Command have arrested a pastor of a deliverance centre, in Uyo, the state capital.
The pastor, identified as Inifon Inyang, 33, lives at Nung Atim Road off Idoro, Uyo, attempted to rape a 21-year-old girl.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Imohini Edgal, made the disclosure at a media briefing at the command’s headquarters, Ikot Akpan-Abia on Wednesday while parading the suspect and 11 others.
Edgal said that there are eight other girls between the ages of 13 years and 16 years living with the pastor and he had in the past repeatedly raped one of them.
“Following a complaint on 18 June, 2020, Operatives of SCIID, Uyo, arrested one Pastor Inimfon Eyo Inyang, aged 33-years-old of Nung Atim Road, Off Idoro Road, Uyo for attempting to rape a 21-year-old girl.
“Investigation further revealed that the said Pastor, who lives with eight other girls between the ages of 13 years and 16 years in his deliverance centre at the said address, at several times had unlawful carnal knowledge of one of the minors who is 15-years-old.”
The commissioner who also paraded other suspected rapists expressed dismay at the rate at which rape cases, especially from caregivers and supposed spiritual fathers, are on the increase.
He enjoined the general public particularly parents and guardians to be more cautious of the integrity of persons to whom they entrust their children and wards.
He warned that any parent or guardian whose child or ward is sent out to hawk will be arrested and prosecuted in line with the provision of section 30 (2C) of the Child’s Rights Act which prohibits the hiring of children for hawking and also prescribes a punishment upon conviction to 10 years imprisonment in section 30(3).
