Police rearrest pastor for raping 12-year-old

The entrance of the toilet. Inset: The victim

The Lagos State Police Command has rearrested a 40-year-old pastor, Alasco Sobowale, for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in Epe area of the state.

Police authorities said the suspect, who is a pastor at Okiki Imole Church, Epe, was rearrested on Thursday at his home located at 10, Togodo Street, Temu Town.

The police had arrested Sobowale on December 21, 2012, for allegedly raping the minor but was later released on bail because courts were not in session.

However, after we published the story on Thursday, the policemen attached to Epe Division stormed his home and rearrested him.

A police source, who craved anonymity, said, “The pastor should never have been released in the first place and the police high command is very much interested. If Sobowale was released because courts were not in session, why were all other suspects in police custody not granted bail as well?

“Rape is a very serious offence and we will make sure that he is prosecuted. After the publication, many members of the community, including elders, rose against the pastor and promised to make sure that the case was pursued to a logical conclusion.”

When contacted on the telephone, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the rearrest of the pastor, adding that he had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

“The suspect has been transferred to the SCID for further investigation and he will be charged with rape and sodomy,” she said.

Our correspondent learnt that the victim had been referred to Epe General Hospital for medical treatment.