Bayelsa pastor arrest follows allegations involving two minors in Yenagoa, as police investigate and FIDA urges child protection and diligent prosecution.

The Bayelsa State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police Ajao Saka Adewale, has arrested a 50-year-old pastor, Ambros Mark, over allegations of sexual abuse involving two girls aged 13 and 14 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with the case transferred to the state police headquarters for further investigation and possible prosecution on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, according to a report published on Wednesday.

Police Public Relations Officer DSP Musa Mohammed confirmed the arrest, saying officers attached to the ‘A’ Division acted after receiving a complaint.

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The suspect was reportedly arrested on Saturday, 24 October, and the police commissioner directed that the case be transferred for further investigation.

The allegations have also prompted the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State chapter, to call for a thorough investigation and appropriate legal action, while emphasising the need to protect the children’s rights, privacy and welfare.

According to the report, Mark serves as a pastor at Point of Redemption Church International, located behind the Amarata area of Yenagoa.

The two girls were reportedly members of the church choir.

The girls were identified as a 13-year-old from Abia State and a 14-year-old from Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The allegations have not been tested in court, and the suspect is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

Bayelsa Police Public Relations Officer DSP Musa Mohammed said the arrest followed a complaint reportedly lodged by the father of the 14-year-old girl, who is also a police officer attached to the state command.

According to the account provided to journalists, the girl allegedly objected to the continuation of the sexual act and subsequently reported the incident to her father.

The father was said to have contacted the police, prompting officers to arrest the suspect.

Mohammed said Commissioner Adewale had directed the transfer of the case and suspect to the state headquarters for further investigation and prosecution.

The police spokesperson also said the suspect had confessed following his arrest. Any such reported confession would need to be assessed through the appropriate legal process.

The report also contained allegations that attempts had been made to resolve the matter through a financial arrangement with one of the families.

The claim could not be independently verified, and no conclusion should be drawn about the circumstances without further evidence.

Dr Boma Tonye Miebai, chairperson of FIDA Bayelsa, said the organisation was monitoring the case to ensure the children’s rights and interests remained protected throughout the legal process.

“We acknowledge the arrest of the alleged perpetrator and urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the matter is diligently prosecuted in accordance with the law,” Miebai said.

She stressed that the children’s welfare must remain central to the investigation, including their access to legal assistance, counselling and other appropriate support.

“We reiterate that no religious title or position places anyone above the law. Our children deserve protection, and alleged sexual offences against them must never be concealed or trivialised,” she added.

FIDA’s intervention comes against a wider backdrop of child-protection concerns in Bayelsa. In March 2026, separate reports by the News Agency of Nigeria and The Guardian documented the arrest of a pastor and his wife in Yenagoa over allegations involving another 13-year-old girl.

That case was transferred to the police Gender Unit for investigation. The earlier case is distinct from the current allegations and does not establish any wrongdoing by the present suspect.

Bayelsa has had a Child Rights Law since 2016, providing a state-level legal framework for children’s welfare and protection. National human rights bodies also identify the prevention of child abuse and exploitation, alongside access to child-sensitive justice, as essential elements of protecting vulnerable children.

The latest case places renewed attention on the responsibility of adults entrusted with children’s care, including religious leaders, to maintain safe environments and respect appropriate boundaries.

It also underlines the importance of reporting allegations promptly, investigating them impartially and avoiding public disclosures that could expose children to stigma or further distress.

The immediate priority is to establish the facts, protect the children and ensure that any prosecution proceeds in accordance with the law.

The police have confirmed the arrest and ordered further investigation, while FIDA has called for accountability and appropriate support for the minors.