The Abia State Police Command has officially confirmed the arrest of Pastor Chukwuemeka Orji, a 60-year-old clergyman, on charges of defiling a 13-year-old female domestic worker in the Aba area of the state.

ASP Chinaka Maureen, the Police Public Relations Officer, verified the arrest and stated that an ongoing investigation was being conducted into the case.

Reports suggest that during the course of the crime, the pastor left visible bruises on the victim and inflicted psychological trauma upon her.

Orji, who had promised to sponsor the minor’s education after taking her from her family, had allegedly been engaging in sexual activities with her since she was 12 years old.

In order to silence the victim, the pastor allegedly threatened to stop supporting her education and send her back to her family if she disclosed the illicit acts to anyone.

The young girl recounted her ordeal, explaining that the pastor persistently made sexual advances which she initially rejected.

However, the situation escalated when the pastor forcefully had sexual intercourse with her in 2022, and it became a regular occurrence thereafter.

On June 15, 2023, Orji’s actions were exposed when he attempted to engage in sexual activity with the minor but discovered she was menstruating.

As a form of punishment, he allegedly forced her to perform oral sex before instructing her to cut grass on a church farm as further retribution.

Unable to bear the abuse any longer, the victim reported the incident to her class teacher, leading to the involvement of school authorities, Vivacious Development Initiative, and the police, resulting in the pastor’s subsequent arrest.

Orji was arraigned at a Magistrate Court in the Aba South Local Government Area, and he has been remanded at the Abia State Correctional Centre pending the resolution of his case.