Pastor In Benue Faces Serious Allegation After Church Member Reports R*pe During Supposed Prayer And Counselling

 

A serious scandal has shaken a congregation in Benue State after a pastor was accused of violating one of his church members during what was supposed to be a spiritual counselling session. The case, which has quickly drawn attention from both the community and legal authorities, centres on 34-year-old Pastor Kelvin Imo, who was recently brought before a magistrate’s court in Makurdi.

According to official reports, the pastor is facing an allegation of r*pe involving a female church member who had sought his guidance and prayer. The victim alleged that what began as a session for spiritual support turned into a deeply traumatic experience that left her powerless and violated.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Chief Magistrate Kevin Mbanongun presided over the matter. However, due to the limitations of the magistrate court’s jurisdiction, the judge did not take the defendant’s plea. Instead, Pastor Imo was ordered to be remanded at the Makurdi Correctional Centre while the case proceeds further through the legal system. The court then adjourned the matter to October 8, when it is expected to return for further mention and potential movement to a higher court with the authority to handle such a grave charge.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Friday Kanshio, provided the court with details of how the matter came to light. He explained that the State Criminal Investigation Department in Makurdi received a written petition from the victim on September 2. In that petition, the woman described the disturbing incident and identified the pastor as the man responsible.

Her account, as narrated by the prosecutor, revealed that the incident allegedly took place earlier this year on April 22. The woman had gone to a branch of Living Faith Church located opposite Coca-Cola Camp at Kilometer 5 along Gboko Road in Makurdi. According to her, she had approached her pastor for prayer and counselling concerning her personal challenges.

She recounted that during the prayer session, the pastor produced a handkerchief which he used to wipe her face. Shortly after this act, she claimed she felt weak and lost her ability to resist. At that point, she alleged that the pastor overpowered her and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her within the church premises without her consent.

The petitioner further explained that her inability to fight back was not due to willingness, but rather to the sudden physical weakness she experienced immediately after the handkerchief was used on her. This detail has raised suspicion regarding what might have been on the handkerchief and whether it played a role in subduing her.

Following her report, the police immediately took up the matter and arrested Pastor Imo to initiate a thorough investigation. The authorities are treating the case under Section 284 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue State, 2004, which categorises r*pe as a serious criminal offence with severe penalties if the accused is found guilty.

The case has already generated heated discussions in Makurdi and beyond. Many residents expressed shock that such an allegation is tied to a figure who held a position of spiritual authority. Within communities of faith, leaders are often regarded as trusted guides and protectors, and news of misconduct on this scale strikes deeply at the confidence congregants place in their pastors.

Some members of the public have called for patience until the full legal process is concluded, warning against a rush to judgment until the evidence is weighed in court. Others, however, see the allegations as a troubling reminder of the potential for abuse of power in environments where individuals are encouraged to submit fully to spiritual leadership.

As the case awaits further legal movement, the spotlight will remain on how the courts handle both the evidence and testimonies. The matter is likely to attract ongoing attention, especially given the seriousness of the allegation and its impact on the reputation of the church involved.

Meanwhile, advocates for women’s rights in the state have urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that the investigation is thorough and impartial. They emphasised the importance of justice not only for the victim but also for the community, which deserves transparency and accountability whenever such allegations surface.

With Pastor Imo now remanded in custody, the next few weeks will determine how the case advances. If formally tried, the court will weigh the testimonies, medical reports, and other forms of evidence to establish whether the pastor committed the offence as alleged. Until then, he remains in custody while the woman who lodged the complaint awaits justice through the legal system.

The adjourned date of October 8 is expected to provide a clearer direction for the matter, including whether it will proceed to a higher court for trial. Until then, both the accused and the accuser are set to remain under the gaze of public scrutiny, as the community watches closely for the outcome of this unsettling case.