A 28-year-old man, who identified himself as Betel Samuel, has confessed at the Rivers State Police Command that he allegedly defiled a three-year-old girl in his pastor’s home.
Betel, who claimed to be a personal assistant to the pastor of a new generation church, was paraded with his friend and three tricycle (keke) snatchers.
Confessing before police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni and the Divisional Police Officer of Rumuolumini Police Station, Kinsley Chukwueggu, the suspect said the act was caused by the devil.
He told reporters that stupidity made him to defile the minor.
According to him, if given a second chance, he would change.
Betel implored the police and the girl’s parents to forgive him.
His words: “I’m the personal assistant to my pastor. We were preparing for a crusade. We went out to paste posters. My pastor called me, saying he forgot money at home. He told me to go and bring it. When I got there, I saw children playing. I then grabbed one of them and had carnal knowledge of her.
“It was purely the work of the devil. I don’t know what came over me. I am not happy. I ask for forgiveness from the parents and the police. I promise not to misbehave again if freed.”
Mr. Osunde Waxin, Betel’s friend, said he did not join him in the act, “but I was in the compound to look for my girlfriend.”
The keke snatchers begged for leniency. They said they resorted to the act to earn a living.
Omoni said the suspects were on the wanted list.
He said the police commissioner had zero tolerance for rape and other crimes.