A pastor identified as Mr. Lucky, affiliated with one of Nigeria’s largest Pentecostal churches, has been arrested in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl.
The arrest occurred on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in the Ihuaje community. It was carried out by the Organised Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC), a local vigilante group formerly known as the ONELGA Security Planning and Advisory Committee.
Under the supervision of the Chief Security Officer of the Ahoada East Council, Hector Ekeakita, and led by OSPAC Commander Precious Ihuruzu, the pastor was apprehended and handed over to the Ahoada Police Division.
Sources confirmed that the suspect is the resident pastor in charge of a branch of the Pentecostal church located in the Ihuaje community. He is also said to be the proprietor of a private school in the area.
Denis Otobo, a member of the Association Against Child, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, provided insight into how the case unfolded.
“On Saturday, I got a call from the gender desk officer of the Ministry of Health, who reported a case of child abuse in Ahoada East. I was asked to follow up, and during my investigation, I discovered that one Pastor Lucky (surname withheld), who also owns a private school in the community, had been sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl under his care,” Otobo said.
According to him, the abuse came to light when the victim’s parents visited her at the pastor’s house. During the visit, the child confided in them about the ongoing abuse, revealing that the pastor would give her ₦500 after each encounter to keep quiet.
The parents immediately took the child to a hospital for a preliminary medical examination. Following this, Otobo contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada for assistance.
“On Saturday evening, I called the DPO, who asked us to come on Sunday. He handled the case professionally, and as we speak, the suspect is in custody at the Ahoada Police Division,” Otobo confirmed.
He commended the efforts of the DPO, the CSO of Ahoada East, Hector Ekeakita, and human rights advocate Prince Wiro, the National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights, for their roles in ensuring the arrest of the suspect.
Otobo called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute the suspect diligently if found culpable.
The Spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest, stating that it was based on a complaint by the child’s parents. She added that an investigation is currently ongoing.
