ABIA, – One Arinze Obiwenite who claimed to be a pastor has stated that he enjoys sexual affairs with his 12-year-old daughter more than any of his wives.
Mr. Obiwenite, a native of Abacha Community in Idemili North Local Government Area was said to have defiled his 12-year-old daughter and ‘fingered’ the younger ones for years, without anyone knowing , until recently.
We gathered that the suspect was arrested after a raid on his home by security operatives. Investigation revealed that the operation was championed by the State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, following a tipoff from a whistleblower who revealed the suspect’s atrocities.
It was further gathered that the suspect had married up to eleven wives, but does not live with any of them at the moment. He locked up his daughter in the room for years and allegedly ‘cooling off’ sexually with them at will.
The suspect was said to own a booming “Healing Ministry”, known as the “Trinity Healing Ministry”, which he was allegedly operating using charms and other diabolical means to perform various kinds of miracles.
A statement issued by Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, a media aide to the Commissioner, revealed that Mr. Obiwenite was arrested during a surprise raid in his home.
According to the statement, the raid was also authorized by the Traditional Ruler of Abacha Community, Igwe Nwabunwanne Odiegwu, when the commissioner and her team visited him notifying him about the matter, asking for permission to raid the suspect’s home.
“It was during the visit that Igwe Odiegwu revealed that the alleged culprit, by name, Arinze Obiwenite, presented himself as a Christian who gives solution to people seeking for answers, without knowing that he has other motives.
“The traditional ruler explained that the town got to know of his illicit activities when he accused some young boys in the community of raping the daughter and was summoned to the palace on several occasions but failed to honor the Royal invitation, which, he said, prompted the youths of the community to troop to his residence, but were utterly disappointed at what they saw at his house”
“According to the Royal father, on getting to his house, they discovered that he locked up his children including the 12-year old whom he alleged was raped by young men in the community.
“And, when questioned, the daughter revealed that the father locked them up in the room for five years and that he always had carnal knowledge of her while he fingers the younger ones.”
The statement also revealed that a stakeholder in the community, Chief Paul Omofia, explained that the youths had wanted to take laws into their hands as they made up their minds to burn the suspect alive, but were calmed by the monarch who intervened and pleaded with them not to take laws into their hands.
It added that Chief Omofia also disclosed that the exposure was made just few weeks after the community’s Ofala Festival where they called on the gods of the land to expose and disgrace any evil doer in the community.
“During a visit to where the children were kept, Honourable Obinabo, after a physical examination of their condition, assured them of justice and a conducive environment for growth and proper care, while she interrogated the alleged culprit Arinze Obiwenite who denied all the allegations leveled against him but was quick to ask the traditional ruler to forgive him and help find a way of resolving the issue without going to court. Igwe Odiegwu however turned down his request.
“During the visit to Obiwenite’s compound it was further discovered that he also uses diabolic means to run a ministry known as ‘Holy Trinity Healing Ministry’.
“Some fetish items discovered in his house included a long list of paper where he wrote down names of people, a grave at his backyard where he admitted he stays to make incantations if he needs special powers or native medicines which he said were also diabolic”, the statement added.
The suspects, according to the statement have been arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Magistrate Court in Awka, where he was remanded at the Correctional Centre, Amawbia, while the children have been taken to hospital for medical examination and possible treatment.
Commissioner Obinabo, in her reaction, sounded a note of warning against any form of child abuse in Anambra State, as, according to her, anyone found guilty, would be severely dealt with by the government.
She also advised members of the public to open up and report any perceived child abuse and other related crimes in their areas in any parts of the State, for immediate government attention and intervention.
