Victim Recounts Drugging and Assault After Drinking Spiked Beverage

A 13-year-old rape victim has detailed her harrowing ordeal at the hands of a trusted neighbour, revealing how a simple request for ₦1,500 for a school textbook led to a life-altering violation. The incident, which occurred in Atan, Ogun State, has left a family shattered and exposed the hidden evil behind a pastor’s cassock.

The Ordeal Begins with a Textbook Fee

Two and a half years ago, Blessing (not her real name), then a 12-year-old Primary Six pupil, was sent home from her public school in Orita for failing to pay ₦1,500 for a textbook. With both parents away at work, the young girl stood outside her home in the scorching heat. Pastor Oluwole Jonathan, a neighbour and shepherd of Christ Apostolic Church, Land of Mercy, invited her into his apartment to rest. Trusting the family friend, she complied. This act of trust cost the girl her innocence. The pastor exploited her vulnerability, leading to a pregnancy that made her a mother at 13 and forced her to abandon her education.

A Life Altered by Trauma

When Saturday Vanguard located the family in Pakoto, Ifo, Ogun State, the young mother was learning a trade at a makeshift tailoring shop. She recalled the traumatic events in a barely audible voice. After she explained her headache, the pastor gave her medicine, forced her to drink it, and she fell asleep. “When I woke up, I saw blood in my private part,” she said, her voice cracking. “He told me not to tell anybody. He said if I told anyone, I would die.” She lived in fear for months until her changing physique revealed the pregnancy. Her father, devastated to learn the perpetrator was their spiritual mentor, reported the case to the police.

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

Justice Served After DNA Confirmation

Pastor Oluwole Jonathan was arrested. He initially denied the allegation, but DNA results later confirmed he was the father of the child, after which he confessed. The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ogun State chapter, handled the case pro bono, while the Spring Centre NGO provided the victim with shelter, medical care, and counselling. After several hearings, the High Court in Ilaro reviewed the evidence and found Pastor Oluwole Jonathan guilty of defilement. In January 2025, the court sentenced him to 21 years in prison, delivering long-awaited justice for the 13-year-old rape victim. The family, having relocated to escape trauma and stigma, continues to grapple with the aftermath of this devastating crime.