A pastor, identified as Kayode Salami has been arrested by the Ondo state Police command after a woman’s corpse was found in his church in Idanre, in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo state.
The deceased, Adejoke Oloje had an 11 month old child, was said to be a member of the church and has stayed in the church’s premises since January 2023.
Her mother, Deborah disclosed that she found her child lying down naked in one of the church rooms.
In her words;
“I called my daughter’s phone and she picked it up. I asked for a description of where she was staying and she obliged me. I went to the church and saw her. She complained about foodstuffs and I promised to bring some for her the following day. I also pleaded with her to leave the place, but she declined and I left.
“The next day, when I got to the church around 5pm, I heard her child crying profusely. So, I moved close to see what happened. I met the door closed. So, I forced it open. To my utmost dismay, I found my daughter on the floor with her pants already removed down her legs and I shouted for help.”
She further stated that her daughter was rushed to the hospital, where her death was confirmed and that she immediately reported the case to the police in Idanre and policemen moved to arrest the pastor of the church.
She said;
“When the pastor was arrested, we noticed that his trousers were torn under and he wasn’t wearing any underwear. It is a painful story and a sad moment for our family. She was with an 11-month-old child before she met her untimely death. The culprit must not go unpunished,”
However, the pastor denied all allegations, saying he knew nothing about his members death.
His words;
“I knew Adejoke through her sister, Aderonke. They came to my church to worship and they went home. After that day, Adejoke came back on her own to seek accommodation in the church, pending when she would get a place to stay.
“I gave her one room out of the two rooms in the church. I did not ask her what happened between her and her sister, Aderonke. I gave her the camp gas we use in the church to cook.
“There is only one door linking my room and the room given to her to stay. So, I used to pass through her room and I always informed her whenever I was going out or coming in.
“We did vigil together in the church and the next morning, I saw her before going to work because I am a welder. She later came to my place of work to charge her phone around 2pm and came to collect it around 4pm.
“I make use of the room when I have programmes in the church. My family and I rented an apartment outside. I did not rape her and I can’t explain how she died.”
Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, The state Police Public Relations Officer, speaking said, investigations were ongoing and the case has been transferred to the headquarters at Akure.
