Thirty-six-year old Chukwuemeka Nwocha, the General Overseer of Tongue of Fire Restoration Ministry, who was arrested during the week by officers of the Lagos state Police command for having 30 under-aged girls as sex slaves, has confessed to sleeping with one of them.

Nwocha made the confession while speaking to journalists when he was paraded on Friday by the police.

Nwocha said, “I only tried to help the girls. When the first girl came, she said she did not have anywhere to go. I did not know her parents. I am a pastor and I felt pity for her. After spending three days, I told her she needed to go out and bring some of her relations so that they would know where she was. But she did not.

“Later, some parents in my church also said they would like to send their children to live with me. Some of them came to spend holidays after their exam.”

“I am a pastor, the devil only used the children against me. I did not rape them. I only slept with Sola (real name withheld). She is my girlfriend and we actually planned to marry.”

When asked how old the girl he mentioned was, he said she was about to clock 17.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni, said three of the girls were impregnated by the pastor.

“While they were in his house, three of them became pregnant and he took them for abortions. He first denied all the allegations but like all criminals, he later confessed to raping them without using protection,” the CP said.

Oludolapo Adelana

Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.