A certain 44-year-old man, Obinna Aneke, who claims to be a deacon of Jesus Saves Pentecostal church in Lagos state, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly defiling a seven-year-old girl, Ngozi.

The victim’s mother, a food vendor, was said to have reached an agreement with Aneke to be leaving her two daughters with him pending their resumption time at school at 7.45am; this was because she always left the house for her trade at 6am, while her husband, a security guard, also left for his place of work the same time, The Punch reports.

Meanwhile, one of Aneke’s three daughters attended the same school with Ngozi and her younger sister, which made the arrangement seem appropriate.

Aneke’s wife, a trader, equally left the house early for her shop, so the suspect was always alone with all the children as they prepared for school.

According to a police source at the command headquarters’ gender office, the suspect started using the opportunity to allegedly defile Ngozi.

The suspect who hails from Udi, Enugu State, was alleged to have slept with the victim six different times in his apartment on James Esu Street, in Bariga area of the state.

Speaking on the incident, the police source said, “The suspect took advantage of the seven-year-old. He would undress her and insert his manhood in her private parts.

“When he could not penetrate, he would apply his saliva to make it easier,” the source disclosed, adding that the act went on till last Tuesday when he again raped the victim and afterwards threatened her not to tell anybody else she would be killed.

Reports say the girl opened up to her parents and the matter was subsequently reported to policemen at the Bariga Police Division and the suspect was arrested.

Thereafter, the victim was taken to the Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where a test allegedly confirmed that there was a penetration.

It was learnt that the Lagos State Government had already taken custody of the victim at the Heritage Home, in the Anthony area of the state.

The matter was subsequently transferred to the Gender Office, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja.

Aneke, however, denied raping Ngozi, saying he only attempted to defile her once and when he could not penetrate, he suspended the action.

The deacon said, “This girl was taught to lie against me. I only attempted to have sex with her once and that was the day she told her parents. I didn’t even remove her pants.

“On that day, I shifted her pants sideways and wanted to penetrate, but when I saw it was not possible, I left her and ejaculated outside her private parts. I am a leader in my church and I don’t want to bring my church into this mess. Even before anybody condemned me, I have already condemned myself and I wish I was not born.

“I was influenced by evil forces to do this.

“I just want to beg for forgiveness from all those I have offended through this action and I just want to die,” the suspect added.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Dolapo Badmos, said “We will arraign the suspect at the conclusion of investigations.

“It is unfortunate that the scourge of rape is on the increase, but we are working to checkmate the activities of paedophiles in our society,” the PPRO stated, warning parents to be watchful so that their children would not turn victims of abuse.