A 38-year-old cleric at a Cherubim & Seraphim Church in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, has been arrested for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl. The cleric, who served at a branch of the church, reportedly committed the crime under the guise of performing spiritual cleansing for the victim.
According to Omolola Odutola, the Command’s spokesperson, the suspect deceived the victim’s mother, a member of the cleric’s congregation, into allowing the spiritual bath.
The mother reported the incident at the Ijebu Igbo Divisional Police Station, stating that the cleric convinced her that the spiritual bath was necessary to prevent a calamity for her daughter.
The police arrested the suspect after receiving the report, and the victim was taken to Medicare Hospital, Ijebu Igbo, for medical examination and gathering of evidence.
Odutola noted that the incident highlights a disturbing level of neglect and lack of parental caution, as the victim’s mother entrusted her child to the suspect without proper scrutiny.
The police spokesperson warned parents and guardians to be vigilant and protect their children from questionable individuals, especially those who exploit religious beliefs for financial gain.