‘The Devil Came Over Me’, Says Karu Pastor Who Raped Minor During Deliverance

Ifeanyi-BernardThe Nasarawa State Police command on Monday paraded a 46 year-old pastor, Ifeanyi Bernard, for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl in the Karu Local Government Area of the state.

According to police authorities, the alleged offence took place on November 3 when the Pastor Bernard was performing ‘deliverance’ on the minor.

When confronted with the enormity of his offence, the pastor described the incident as the handiwork of the devil.

While parading the suspect at the Criminal Investigative Department, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sani Mohammed, said the suspect was apprehended following a report by the father of the victim, Mr. Martins Ijiwo.

According CP Mohammed, the clergy, who lives in the Alikima Mararaba area of the state, lured the victim into his house under the pretext of casting out demons from her.

The police boss said the cleric allegedly forced the victim his bed and raped her repeatedly.

According to the police boss, the accused threatened to kill the victim if she reported the incident to any member of her family.

However, when the father of the girl learnt of the pastor had done, he reported the incident to the police, who immediately stormed Bernard’s home and arrested him.

Policemen also recovered bottles of anointing oil from the suspect’s home as well as a bedspread.

The CP said, “The pastor took advantage of his closeness to the girl’s family – who are members of his congregation – to rape their 13-year-old daughter under the guise of casting out demons from her”.

Confessing to the shameful act, Pastor Bernard claimed that he didn’t know what came over him when he had carnal knowledge of the 13-year-old girl, whose family he admitted, he had been a friend to for some time.

He said, “I had been into evangelism for some years now and I have been casting out demons from people who have spiritual and family problems before I met this young girl through her father, Mr. Martins Ijiwo.

“I have been a friend of the family for quite some time.

“I used my anointing oil to lure her into my room and all of a sudden, I was carried away and before I knew what was happening, I saw myself making love to her”.