A yardman at Saint Michaels and All Angels Anglican Church, Ifite Awka in Awka south local government area of Anambra State, has allegedly raped and impregnated a 14-year-old girl.
The 31-year-old suspect, James Rich, who has been arrested by the police confessed to the crime saying: “I usually rape her every Sunday in the church” adding that he always gave the victim N200 to buy biscuits each time he slept with her.
Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, media aide to the commissioner for women and social welfare in the state, Mrs Ify Obinabo, who disclosed this in a statement, said the suspect was arrested by police operatives in the state after the commissioner contacted them for assistance.
Ikeanyionwu said Rich, who hails from Cross River State and is married with two children, serves as a yardman in the church.
She said the suspect confessed during interrogation that he had slept with the victim about three times.
She also said the suspect pleaded for forgiveness, claiming it was the first time he committed such a crime.
For her part, the victim, whose name was not disclosed, said she would always arrive for the 6:30am service early and on each occasion the suspect would take her into one of the toilets on the church premises for sex before service commenced.
The statement quoted the commissioner as warning men to stop raping women, especially minors as the state government has zero tolerance for such act.
She assured the public that the suspect would be charged to court immediately.
