Tare Magbei
An eight-month pregnant woman has been raped by a self-acclaimed prophet identified as Festus James.
The suspect, who has since been arrested by operatives of the Ondo State Police Command, reportedly committed the act at Agbabu community, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
Police Public Relations Officer of Ondo state, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, told newsmen that James had carnal knowledge of the victim while pretending to perform spiritual deliverance on her.
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Parading the suspect at the command headquarters in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, Mrs. Odunlami said;
“James from Ibadan in Oyo State went to Agbabu village via Ore, claimed to be a prophet and that the holy spirit directed him to have a three days holy ghost revival in a church in the village.
“The next day, the prophet claimed to have seen a vision concerning a 22-year-old lady who was eight months pregnant and told her to wait behind after the program.
“He took the pregnant lady into one of the rooms in the mission house under the guise of delivering her from an evil spirit and had carnal knowledge of her. The suspect confessed to the crime.”
She added that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as possible.
Prophet James, who did not deny having sex with the woman, said he did not rape the victim.
“I had sex with her truly, but it was not rape; I did not rape her. I always went there for revival. But honestly, I didn’t know what came over me that caused me to do that. It was the work of the devil,” he said.
