Anambra: Testimony of a Pastor's Assault on Church Altar – Victim

A 16-year-old schoolgirl, Precious Okafor, has disclosed the incident of sexual abuse she encountered at the hands of a pastor in Anambra State during what was described as a deliverance session.

Okafor recounted her experience in a conversation with ThePunch, following her rescue by the Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad Agency in Onitsha.

“My aunt informed me that her pastor claimed I was possessed and required deliverance. She brought me to his house at night and left me with him,” she narrated.

The pastor, Evangelist Dozie Ezani of Jesus Is Ontop Ministry, allegedly made inappropriate advances towards her during this time.

“When I was asleep, the pastor entered the room and began to touch me, but I resisted. After numerous attempts, he eventually exited. I later overheard his wife questioning him about his whereabouts, to which he replied that he was ‘checking on the children’,” she explained.

“The next day, he took me to his church in Amichi for a ‘special deliverance’ session, asserting that I urgently required God’s intervention. However, while the so-called deliverance was taking place at the altar, he tried to overpower me, but I managed to resist him.

“For several days, I was deprived of food. At one point, I became extremely weak from hunger, and the pastor ultimately overpowered me, forcing himself on me multiple times on the altar during the deliverance event.

“He assaulted me in the church and occasionally at his poultry farm in Igboukwu, a nearby town in Aguata LGA.

The accused has admitted to some misconduct but attributed his actions to “the devil’s handiwork.”

Evangelist Ezani stated: “It is the devil’s handiwork. I lost control and didn’t know what came over me.

“I was apprehended at my poultry farm. Security operatives took me to their office in Onitsha that same day and subsequently transferred me to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka.

“I ask the authorities to show leniency. It is not solely my fault, as the girl was brought to me. I am also willing to cover her medical expenses should I be released.”