DEMAND FOR JUSTICE FOR TWO SISTERS ALLEGEDLY DEFILED/RAPED BY
PROPHET LUKE EZE OF THE CITY OF HOPE CHURCH, OKUNITO OGHE, IN
EZEAGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ENUGU STATE
Women Aid Collective (WACOL) is profoundly shocked and saddened by the disturbing report
from two young sisters, Miss N1 (15 years old) and Miss N2 (17 years old) (their real names are
withheld to protect their privacy, identity, and dignity as minors). They have reportedly, from their
first-hand account to WACOL officials, been defiled and raped, allegedly by Prophet Luke Eze of
the City of Hope Church, Okunito Oghe, in Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu State.
We are further disturbed to learn that while the pastor’s wife is allegedly pressuring the survivors’
mother to accept a bribe of four million Naira (N4,000,000.00) to remain silent about this horrific
incident, the suspect’s son is allegedly threatening the life of the victims’ mother.
WACOL has reported the matter to the police and has petitioned the Enugu State Commissioner
of Police for an urgent investigation and thorough prosecution of the suspect. We are taking
measures to ensure the safety and security of the victims, given the serious threats made against
them and their families to withdraw the charges.
As a dedicated human rights organization, WACOL, together with its subsidiary Tamar Sexual
Assault and Referral Centre, expresses grave concern over the increasing impunity surrounding
sexual and gender-based violence, particularly against women and girls in Nigeria. WACOL is
committed to fostering a democratic society where violence and abuse are eradicated and where
both law and practice fully protect the rights of women and young people.
We believe that:
1. The cruelty inflicted upon these young girls and their mother is not only criminal but also
heartless and tragic.
2. The drugging of these young girls to gain access to their bodies constitutes a blatant violation
of their sexual and reproductive health rights, as well as their rights to life, bodily integrity, and
dignity.
3. The safety of these victims, including their mother, is under serious threat from the influential
suspect and his son, who are attempting to silence them and obstruct their access to justice.
4. The alleged bribe offered to the victims’ mother is an attempt to intimidate and undermine the
administration of justice, making the prophet’s wife an accomplice to this crime.
5. The actions of the prophet have abused the trust placed in him by using his position to exploit
these young girls under the guise of deliverance.
6. The failure to arrest the prophet’s wife and son exacerbates the already vulnerable situation
faced by these victims and their mother, placing their lives in jeopardy due to alleged threats from
the prophet’s son.
WACOL Demands:
(1) We call for an immediate, rigorous, and transparent investigation into these grave
allegations, ensuring the swift prosecution of all those implicated—including Prophet Luke
Eze, his wife, and their son, whose intimidation and threats have compounded the suffering
of the victims and their mother.
(2) We demand urgent arrest and detention of the prophet’s wife and son to safeguard the lives
and well-being of the survivors and the family, especially their mother, who remains at
imminent risk.
(3) We insist on prompt and concrete action by the authorities and relevant stakeholders to
guarantee the safety, protection, and access to justice for these courageous victims and their
mother.
In conclusion, the experiences of this distressed mother and her daughters—who are victims of
sexual abuse and exploitation—represent not only a betrayal of trust but also a criminal act. This
is particularly concerning because they were seeking help at the prophet’s request during a church
service when the alleged defilement and sexual assaults took place.
No person, regardless of their social or economic standing, should ever endure the horrors of rape,
defilement, or threats to their life in a just society. It is the absolute duty of the law to shield and
uplift the most vulnerable among us—especially young girls whose futures hang in the balance.
As poignantly stated by their mother, Madam NN, “I don’t have anyone to fight for us.” This
urgent cry compels us to demand that Nigeria’s laws be not only upheld but vigorously enforced
to protect these victims, restore their dignity, and deliver the justice and remedies they so
desperately deserve.
Justice must be served for the two sisters and their mother, who have experienced trauma. The
suspects should face prosecution, and if found guilty, appropriate sentencing should be imposed to
deter similar offences.
Signed: WACOL Communication Unit
