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OLABODE SUNDAY

It was shock and initially, disbelief among residents of Tanke area of Ilorin, Kwara State, when news filtered into the town that a pastor raped a girl on the church altar during a vigil. But what looked like a fairy tale earlier turned out to be real, going by the victim’s revelations.

The suspect, Olabode Sunday, 31, allegedly invited Funke, 25, (other names withheld), who had just concluded the National youth’s service, for prayers to pave the way for her land a white collar job. Daily Sun gathered that midway into the vigil, there was a heavy rainfall, which made the weather very cold.

It was at that point that the temptation to convert the vigil to love meeting crept in. The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), pastor was alleged to have succumbed to nature, as he started making love overtures to the girl he was supposed to take her case of joblessness to God. He allegedly raped the hapless girl.

Sunday, who was remorseful, blamed the incident on the devil. He narrated how the victim attended a vigil, where he prayed for her, but saw the need for another round of vigil, which according to him, was scheduled for August 14.

“Funke came to my house at about 7.00 pm on August 14 and we later moved into the church behind the prayer ground. We started the prayer at about 12 midnight. Suddenly, there was downpour, followed by thunderstorm. So, we later moved into the church as the key was in my possession. We continued the prayer. At about 3.00 am, I hugged her and later I lost control of myself. One thing led to the other. That was how I had carnal knowledge of her,” he confessed.

He disclosed that after having sex with her, he encouraged and assured her that God would still provide job for her. “So, both of us left the church at about 5.00 am,” he said. The victim, who also spoke to Daily Sun narrated how the suspect had been praying for members of the family for years. According to her, that was what motivated her to request him to pray for her to secure a job. “He forced himself on me and had sex with me on the altar. He later begged me to forgive him, claiming it was the handiwork of the devil.

The following morning, I reported the matter at ‘F’ police Division in Tanke,” she said. A member of the church, Kunle Alade, who spoke to Daily Sun on the matter, described it as unfortunate. According to him, the suspect has dented the image of the church. He also wondered why he chose the altar for such an unholy act. He fumed: “This is a shameful act.”

Confirming the incident, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Murkta said the suspect was arrested for forcefully having carnal knowledge of the victim. He disclosed that the victim was taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, where doctors confirmed that she was raped.