Pastor Arrested for Allegedly Abusing Two Young Girls in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed that they arrested a 50-year-old pastor, Ambros Mark. He is accused of sexually abusing two girls, aged 13 and 14, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said the pastor admitted to the crime. The Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, has ordered that the case and the suspect be moved to the state police headquarters for further investigation and prosecution.

Mohammed shared details during a phone interview with our correspondent. He said the Divisional Police Officer of the ‘A’ Division acted quickly after they received the complaint.

“Upon receipt of the complaint, the DPO of the ‘A’ Division swung into action and arrested the suspect. The suspect, upon arrest, confessed to the charge, and the division has been directed by the Commissioner of Police to transfer the case and the suspect to the State Police Headquarters for proper investigation and prosecution,” he said.

The arrest has caused an outcry from the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State chapter. They called for a thorough investigation and for the rights of the children to be protected.

The pastor is from the Point of Redemption Church International, located behind the Amarata area of Yenagoa. Reports say the two girls are members of the church choir.

The victims include a 13-year-old girl from Abia State and a 14-year-old girl from Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

A source familiar with the case told our correspondent that the 14-year-old girl told her father, a police officer, about the abuse after she resisted the pastor's actions. Her father then made a complaint to the police, which led to the pastor's arrest last Saturday.

Some residents also claimed the pastor had a history of inappropriate relationships with underage girls. These claims have not been independently verified.

There were further allegations that attempts were made to settle the matter with one of the victims' families through money. However, the parents of the 13-year-old girl refused the offer, which was reported to have fallen through. This allegation could not be independently verified.

The Chairperson of FIDA, Bayelsa State chapter, Dr Boma Miebai, said the organization is monitoring the situation to ensure the children's rights are protected.

She urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the case is properly prosecuted according to the law. “We acknowledge the arrest of the alleged perpetrator and urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the matter is diligently prosecuted in accordance with the law,” she said.

Miebai also stated, “As an organization committed to the protection of women’s and children’s rights, FIDA Bayelsa will continue to advocate for the children’s safety, dignity, confidentiality, and access to appropriate legal and psychosocial support.”

She warned against covering up for anyone accused of sexual offenses against children, regardless of their religious title. “We reiterate that no religious title or position places anyone above the law. Our children deserve protection, and alleged sexual offenses against them must never be concealed or trivialized,” she stated.

Miebai reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to ensuring that the rights and best interests of the children are upheld throughout the legal process. The organizations involved are pushing for the protection of the minors and appropriate legal action based on the investigation's outcome.

This case has raised fresh concerns about child protection and the responsibility of adults, especially religious leaders, to ensure the safety of children in their care.