A 31-year-old church employee, James Rich, has been apprehended for impregnating a 14-year-old girl.
The man, who identified himself as a yardman, lives with his family in Ifite Awka, Anambra, and works at St. Michaels and All Angels Anglican Church.
According to reports, police operatives and representatives of the Anambra State Ministry of Women’s Affairs collaborated to arrest him.
In a press release and video shared by Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, Hon. Ify Obinabo’s media assistant for Women’s Affairs, it is stated that Rich had knowledge of the teenage girl and had lured her to the church restroom just before the service started. He then gave her N200 to purchase herself something.
“James Rich, from Cross River State, but residing in Awka, Anambra State, is a yardman at St. Michaels and All Angels Anglican Church, Ifite Awka,” according to the statement released by Ikeanyionwu
“The suspect accepted to have defiled the 14-year-old and impregnated her in the process.
He explained that he usually does so every Sunday morning at the church premises and that he has had carnal knowledge of her for about three times, after which he gives her the sum of N200 to buy biscuit.”
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According to her, the suspect revealed that he was married, had two kids, and was expecting a third. He also said that he lived on the church grounds, where he maintained the grounds on a daily basis.
“He pleaded for pardon stating that this is his first time committing the crime and that it was temptation that made him do so.”
The victim consistently attends the 6:30 am service, arriving early each time.
However, she reported that, on every occasion, the suspect leads her to the church toilet for a sexual encounter before the service begins. She asserted that there was no coercion involved in her interactions with Rich.
In response to the incident, Obinabo, speaking through her Special Assistant, Mrs. Blessing Nweke, revealed that the case would be promptly taken to court to ensure justice for the girl.