DID YOU READ "30 GIRLS RESCUED FROM PASTOR'S SEX CAMP IN LAGOS"

I came across a story making headlines in the news today with the caption  '30 girls rescued from Pastors sex camp in Lagos” and thought to air my view on this type of story and most importantly the reactions of the readers on nairaland blog.

Usually a story of this type is not an open and close case, especially when you read through to find out divergent views of different actors or individuals associated with the story.

In this case, the Pastor, Chukwuma Nkwocha of Tongue of fire Restoration Ministry has the habit of taking into his custody girls who are homeless and providing them with accommodation and sometimes pay for their entrance or school fess according to his younger brother. Report has it that one of the girls, Evelyn, who was chased away by the pastor for resisting his advances, reported the matter to the police, who swung into action and arrested the Pastor during a Tuesday service.

The Pastor s younger brother Kingsley Nkwocha, who confirmed the report said the girl after she was chased away by the brother for been stubborn and thereafter wrote a petition to the Police which resulted in the Pastors arrest.

Another report has it that a resident, who did not want her name in print, alleged that the pastor used the opportunity of providing the girls accommodation to rape them.


“What we normally observe in the community is that, whenever there is a programme in the church, even on Sundays, girls are usually brought to the church in different commercial buses.”

Another resident, Mr. Taoreed Ajao, said they were tired of the “unruly behavior” of the pastor in the area. He said: “Whenever they have their vigil in the church, they always increase the volume of their loud speakers which is affecting every resident.

Now, when you read through this story, you would find out that there are conflicting reports which makes the case a bit more complicated to report under the headline it has been reported in some media today.

One is that the police is yet to conclude with their investigation into the matter, and like the Nigerian police, they went ahead and arrested the man of God long before they conclude investigation as evident by the submission of the PPRO SP Dolapo Badmos, who said the Lagos state Police commissioner has asked that the matter be investigated.

Another conflict is the submission of a resident who complained about the unruly behavior of the Pastor with regards to the noise the church makes each time they have vigil.

Yet more disturbing are the reactions coming from comments made by some readers, typical of Nigerians, they Pastor is already adjudged guilty and so is liable for public lashes.

Some comments said they man is a sex maniac; others blamed religion for the alleged abuse act, while others called for him to be punished. But the most disturbing are the ones who made tribal remarks in favour and against the Pastor.

My submissions are; why are Nigerians always in the habit of playing tribal or ethnic sentiments of any public issue? Does it mean that we are more of our tribes or just a reflection borne out of who we are? Again, how are we sure that the man of God is not a victim of hate because of his charitable actions or the fact that some people within the area are feeling the heat of the loud speaker at night whenever the church holds her vigil as confirmed by one of the resident.

Lastly, why is the Nigerian police in the habit of not beginning or concluding an investigation into a matter before making arrest, thereby adjudging the accused guilty in the eyes of the public before a matter is decided either by their investigation or by a court of competent jurisdiction.

For me, this man is not guilty, judging by the various conflicting reports and the ineptitude of the Nigerian police in this matter, so the headline would have been something like“Pastor arrested over alleged sexual assault of a female member” 

you are free to air your own view(s) here also.