A General Overseer Paul Zion Deliverance Ministry, Asaba, Apostle Paul, has been arrested by the police for the alleged abduction and rape...
A General Overseer Paul Zion Deliverance Ministry, Asaba, Apostle Paul, has been arrested by the police for the alleged abduction and rape of a 21 – year- old woman, Esther , in Ibusa, Asaba , the Delta State capital .
Paul , had allegedly held the victim captive in his shop for about one week, before he was caught on Thursday .
The suspect was said to have operating a shop where he sales scriptural items.
The shop is located opposite a parish of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners Chapel ) on Ibusa Road.
Esther had attended a vigil at the Living Faith Church with her family members on Friday, January 12 , when Paul allegedly hypnotised and abducted her .
It was gathered that the family members searched for her around the church after the vigil to no avail .
They subsequently reported a case of missing person at the A Division of the Delta State Police Command , while the church prayed for her safe return .
A friend of the victim ’ s brother had reportedly gone to buy something at Paul ’ s shop on Thursday when he sighted her and informed the family .
Esther’ s elder brother said some church workers apprehended the suspect and held him until the police arrived .
The brother, who did not want his name in print , said , “ We went for a vigil at our church on Friday, January 12 . We could not find her after the service .
My sister is a special child . She had convulsion while she was young and it affected her . She can ’ t read and write.
“ Someone saw her at the man ’ s shop on Thursday and raised the alarm . When we got there, we discovered that the man had bought new clothes for her . She had been hypnotised and refused to follow us . Later , she said the man made her to swear with a Bible that she would not leave him and that if she did , she would die . He should be in his 50 s.
“ We learnt that he chased away his wife and children a long time ago . He sells souvenirs outside the church ( Winners Chapel ) . The church does not have anything to do with him . ”
He said Esther was taken to the police clinic at Asaba , where a test carried out on her confirmed that she was raped.
He added that the medical report would be handed over to the police on Monday ( today ).
“ He calls himself an apostle . We learnt that his church was closed down . We have options to either drop the case or take him to court . For some reasons, we will not drop the case , ” he added .
The medical report , which was sighted by our correspondent, indicated that the victim tested positive for “ smothered labia majora / minora. ”
The coordinator of a rights group , Behind Bars Initiative , Harrison Gwamnishu , said the organisation was closely following the case .
He said Paul attempted to flee when he noticed that luck had run out on him .
Gwamnishu said , “A woman contacted my organisation and linked me up with the brother of the victim . When we got to the man ’ s shop , the victim was following him around . He has a mattress inside the shop . On our way to the police station , he said God told him to get married to a lady and he felt he could marry her . I called the Investigating Police Officer today ( Sunday ) to know if she was at the station so I could bring the medical report . But she did not pick her calls”.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer , DSP Andrew Aniamaka , said the police had commenced investigation into the matter , adding that the command had yet to establish the rape allegation .
He said , “We are investigating a case of abduction . The victim is suspected to be physically challenged .
“ The so called pastor is not a pastor. He has a history of mental illness. Be that as it may , it is not for the police to establish who is mad or not .
The appropriate authorities will take care of that . It is case of abduction , which we may have to charge to court . ”
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