Operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a 50-year-old pastor identified as Ambros Mark, for allegedly sexually abusing two underage girls aged 13 and 14 in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The cleric was arrested on Saturday after an alarm was raised that he defiled the two victims who are members of his Church.
Police Spokesman in Bayelsa State, DSP Musa Mohammed, who confirmed the arrest to Daily Trust on Wednesday, said investigation is ongoing on the matter, while the accused is in custody.
The suspect is said to be the pastor of New Generation Pentecostal Church, located behind the Amarata area of Yenagoa.
The 13-year-old girl, who is one of the victims, hails from Abia State, while the 14-year-old is from Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
It was gathered that the case came to light after the 14-year-old girl reportedly objected to the alleged sexual advances and informed her father, a police officer attached to the Bayelsa State Police Command.
The father subsequently reported the matter to the police division, leading to the pastor’s arrest.
It was also alleged that attempts to resolve the matter through financial settlement failed after the parents of the 13-year-old girl reportedly declined to accept the arrangement.
The incident has attracted condemnation from women’s rights advocates, who have called for a thorough investigation and the protection of the alleged victims.
The Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State chapter, Dr. Boma Tonye Miebai, and the founder of the Do Foundation, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, confirmed the incident and condemned the alleged sexual abuse of the minors.
The Do Foundation expressed shock over the allegations, describing the reported incident as disturbing and emphasising the need to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse.
Miebai said FIDA Bayelsa was actively following the case within its mandate to protect the rights and interests of the affected children.
She called on the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation and ensure that the matter was prosecuted in accordance with the law.
She said, “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.”
According to her, FIDA Bayelsa would continue to advocate for the safety, dignity and confidentiality of the children while ensuring that they have access to appropriate legal and psychosocial support.
She stressed that the rights and best interests of the alleged victims must remain a priority throughout the legal process.
Miebai stated, “We reiterate that no religious title or position places anyone above the law. Our children deserve protection, and alleged sexual offences against them must never be concealed or trivialised.”
She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that the children’s rights are upheld and that the appropriate legal process is followed.
The police are expected to investigate the allegations and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
