Women protest over rape of 12-year-old maid by pastor

A 60-year-old pastor of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Mr Boniface Onyekwere, is to face prosecution at the High Court for allegedly raping a 12-year-old maid in Awka, Anambra State.

Already, the suspect has been remanded at Correctional Centre in Awka even as the police command has begun investigation into the incident.

This is as the State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Ify Obinabo, on Friday called for prosecution of alleged suspect.

Pastor Onyekwere who is also a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka was alleged to have defiled the minor who had lived with him for barely three days before the incident.

The minor who gave her name as Uju Okafor from Ufuma in Orumba North Local government areas of Anambra state, narrated how she broke her while jumping down from a two-storey building to escape the unbearable pain from the rape.

Speaking during a protest carried out by Ultimate Business Women and Farmers Association of Nigeria , the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State DSP Tochukwu Ikenga said that the command is still investigating the matter .

Ikenga advised parents and guardians to be mindful of the people they handover their children to as house maids.

The Women Affairs Commissioner Mrs Obinabo lauded the Association for the protest, adding that one of the key agenda of the Governor Charles Soludo led administration is to ensure the protection of women and children’s rights.

“We have commenced sensitization programs for women, girl child and young boys to avert abuse of the younger generation.

“We also call on groups and faith -based organizations as well as churches to teach morals and embrace the culture and traditions of the society for posterity”

The leader of the women organization Mrs. Nkiru Nwagbo said the body would leave no stone unturned until the victim gets justice.

“We do not know what our society is turning into and that is why we are doing all that we can to get justice and this would serve as a lesson for those who may want to continue in this inhumane activities” she said.

The placards of the protesters read, ‘Soludo protect our girls, Pastor Boniface Onyekwere must face the wrath of law, say no to rape, we want justice, Soludo on justice we stand,’ among other things.