A 38 years old pastor with one of the Pentecostal churches in Benin, Pastor Ekene Samuel, has been arrested by the police in Edo state for allegedly getting Miracle Nwabueze, (17) to the hospital for abortion after getting her pregnant.

The pastor was among the 102 suspected criminals paraded by the Edo state police commissioner, DanMallam Muhammed, for their alleged involvement in various crimes in the state.

The Pastor was assisted by one of his church member, Mrs. Happy Johnson, who was paraded alongside the Pastor.

The commissioner said the command received a complaint from one Henry Aikhuamen that one Miracle Nwabueze, 17 years old was missing.

“Operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad through a Hi-Tech intelligence located Miss Miracle Nwabueze on a sick bed at Graceville Medical Centre, Ewa Road, Benin.

“On enquiry, the doctor informed the police that one Deaconess Happy Johnson brought her for treatment. She was arrested and confessed that one Pastor Ekene Samuel asked her to assist him bring Miracle Nwabueze to the hospital for abortion.

“The victim confessed that she was impregnated by Pastor Ekene Samuel, who charmed and had sex with her five times in December, 2018. Pastor Ekene Samuel was arrested and charms were recovered from him in his house,” he said.

Speaking with journalists, the Pastor said he had extra marital affair with a lady, but quit the relationship August last year due to her behaviour.

“But January this year, she said she was pregnant and I sent one of my member to take her to the hospital when she complained of pains not knowing that she was already talking drugs to terminate the pregnancy”.

He said, “When they got to the hospital, they discovered that she had ruptured appendicitis but the doctor referred us to another hospital where the operation was done successfully and they charged N380,000 and I am still paying the bill now”.

According to him, few days after the operation, his wife went to give her some items and she was arrested by the police because someone had complained about the matter

“When she was arrested, I went to the station and I was arrested because she knows nothing about it. After my arrest, the police went to my church and packed items given to me by those I prayed for as the charm I am using in church.

“I don’t go to Babalawos or native doctors; these items were returned by the people I prayed for and they got deliverance through prayers. Nobody is above mistake and temptation can come at anytime,” he added.

On her part, Mrs Happy Johnson, told journalists that she was not aware that the lady was pregnant and that she was carrying out abortion.

She said she was preparing for church when the pastor called her to take the girl to the hospital saying she was not well.

“When we got to the hospital, they said they should carry out an ultrasound; when I asked her what the problem was, she said it is appendicitis. They then referred us to another hospital for the operation.

She added, “I signed for her when they want to do the operation but I did not know it was about abortion”.

She explained, “I was arrested with the pastor’s wife when she came to give clothes to the lady at the hospital. I was arrested for signing the paper and carrying her to the hospital. I only got to know at the police station that it was an abortion.”

•Sourced from a Daily Trust report

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