Rivers State Police Command has arrested pastor of the Gracious Covenant Church, for allegedly impregnating a 15-year-old girl in Ndele community, in the Emohua Local Government Area of the state.

The 45-year-old pastor identified as Piler Erekwa, was arrested following a complaint made by Amesi ThankGod, an in-law to the girl.

ThankGod said the victim and her mother were members of the pastor’s church, adding that the girl usually go to the church to pass time whenever her mother goes to farm.

He said: “If her mother goes to the farm, the girl normally goes to the church to relax and returns in the evening. But in the last few days, the girl started vomiting. My wife, who is the victim’s elder sister, took her for a medical examination and the result showed she is pregnant.”

Following the discovery, the woman took the girl to confront the pastor, Pillar admitted that he was responsible for the pregnancy and begged the girl’s sister to let him terminate the pregnancy but the family refused.

ThankGod said, “But he (pastor) said they should give her some drugs to flush the pregnancy so that the girl will be free. But if we allow that the girl may die and we have ourselves to blame.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmedthe incident said, “Yes, we are aware of the incident. The suspect has been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.”