16-Year-Old Alleges Repeated Rape by Pastor During ‘Deliverance’ in Anambra

16-Year-Old Alleges Repeated Rape by Pastor During ‘Deliverance’ in Anambra

A 16-year-old girl, Precious Okafor, has accused a pastor, Evangelist Dozie Ezani, of repeatedly raping her during a so-called “special deliverance” in Amichi, Anambra State.

The teenager spoke at the Onitsha office of the Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad Agency (SASA) after she was rescued from the suspect.

Precious, a native of Amichi in Nnewi South Local Government Area, said she had been living in Lagos where she was schooling in SS1 before her aunt brought her back to the village in November 2025.

She said her aunt told her guardians in Lagos that a pastor had revealed she was possessed by “seven marine spirits” and needed urgent spiritual intervention at his church, Jesus Is Ontop Ministry in Amichi.

According to her, she was taken to the pastor’s residence at night and handed over to him, after which her aunt left.

She alleged that on the first night, while she slept in the same room with the pastor’s children, he came in and began touching her inappropriately, but she resisted and pushed him away. She added that she later overheard his wife asking where he had been, to which he responded that he was checking on the children.

The following day, she said she was taken to the church for the deliverance session, where the pastor allegedly attempted to force himself on her at the altar, but she resisted.

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Precious further alleged that she was subsequently starved for days, leaving her weak, after which the pastor overpowered her and began to have sexual intercourse with her.

She said the abuse occurred multiple times at the church and at the pastor’s poultry farm in Igboukwu, a neighbouring community in Aguata Local Government Area.

The victim alleged that the pastor deliberately isolated her by telling others to stay away from her, claiming she was possessed, and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse to anyone, including his wife.

She said she had no access to a phone and could not reach her aunt, who never checked on her after leaving her in the pastor’s care.

Her ordeal came to an end about two weeks ago when SASA operatives arrested the pastor at his poultry farm following a tip-off from a community security official who had been monitoring his movements.

Precious said the operatives, numbering over 10, arrived at the farm, questioned both of them, and took them to their office in Onitsha.

She disclosed that she is currently experiencing bleeding, which she attributed to herbal concoctions allegedly given to her by the pastor in an attempt to terminate a suspected pregnancy. She said she was not taken to a hospital.

She appealed to authorities for urgent medical attention and expressed gratitude to the operatives for rescuing her.

“I had been enduring unimaginable suffering before I was rescued,” she said.

Meanwhile, the suspect, Evangelist Dozie Ezani, admitted to having sexual relations with the minor but blamed his actions on “the devil’s handiwork.”

He said the girl was initially returned to her aunt after a deliverance session but was later brought back when the aunt allegedly refused to keep her, describing her as difficult to manage.

The cleric said it was after she returned to his residence that he began having “inappropriate knowledge” of her.

When asked if he considered her age, he said he did not know what came over him.

He also admitted giving her a herbal mixture made from bitter leaf and other substances, claiming it was meant to treat a medical issue she complained about and to terminate a suspected pregnancy to avoid public shame.

Ezani, who said he is married with children, stated that his wife resides in Igboukwu where she manages his poultry farm.

He added that he was arrested at the farm and taken to the SASA office in Onitsha before being transferred to the State  Criminal Investigation Department in Awka.

16-Year-Old Alleges Repeated Rape by Pastor During ‘Deliverance’ in Anambra