Operatives of the Ondo State police command has arrested a ‘prophet’ one Festus James for allegedly raping an 8 month old pregnant woman.
The ‘prophet’ who was arrested on November 13, was said to have committed the offence at Agbabu community in the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, during a private deliverance session.
Parading the suspect at the command headquarters in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, November 18, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP. Funmilayo Odunlami, said;
“James from Ibadan in Oyo State went to Agbabu village via Ore, claimed to be a prophet and that the holy spirit directed him to have a three days holy ghost revival in a church in the village.
“The next day, the prophet claimed to have seen a vision concerning a 22-year-old lady who was eight months’ pregnant and told her to wait behind after the programme.
“He took the pregnant lady into one of the rooms in the mission house under the guise of delivering her from an evil spirit and had carnal knowledge of her. The suspect confessed to the crime.”
Speaking to newsmen, James denied r-aping the lady stating that he truly had s-ex with the victim.
He said he went to Agbabu town for a three-day revival but on the second day of the revival, the parents of the girl came to meet him for spiritual help for their daughter.
“Then I asked her parents to take her to the river for cleansing, and I don’t know how she came to meet me at the place I was given by one of the villagers for the revival.
“I do not know how we had s-ex and immediately when I had s-ex with her, I started crying because I was wondering how it happened.
“I will not lie, I had se-x with her, but it was not rape; I did not rape her. I always went there for revival. But honestly, I didn’t know what came over me that caused me to do that. It was the work of the devil.”. I know that it’s the devil that wanted to disgrace me,” 56 year old James narrated.
PRO Odunlami said the suspect would soon be charged to court.
