Benue Catechist On The Run As Pregnant Teenager In His Catechism Class Dies During Abortion

A Catechist at St. Martins Parish Mbape, Shangev-Ya Adikpo Deanery in Kwande local government area of Benue State, is now at large following the death of a teenage girl he allegedly impregnated.

According to reports, Catechist Oliver Vershima, who impregnated the girl attempted to perform an illegal abortion on her to conceal his act but unfortunately the girl died in the process.

A local, who spoke to our Correspondent on condition of anonymity, explained that the Catechist allegedly impregnated the teenage girl, who was in the Catechism class, and in the process of aborting the pregnancy through traditional means she died.

According to him, the fugitive Catechist kept the corpse and arranged with a motorcycle rider popularly called ‘Okada’ to help him carry the corpse to a location where he can bury the victim but luck ran out of him and he was caught.

Also, a native of the community, who simply identified himself as Terhemba, told journalists on Tuesday that the incident happened last Saturday.

According to him, “the Catechist, who was assigned to work at St. Augustine Zone, Jov Mbahura by name Oliver Vershima was caught with a girl’s corpse on a motorcycle around 7pm on Saturday.

“Upon questioning him, it was discovered that he (Oliver) had impregnated the girl and was trying to terminate the pregnancy but in the process, the girl lost her life early hours of the day (Saturday).

“To conceal this, the Catechist hid the dead body inside his room until nightfall so he could take the body out of the village and possibly run away.

“Unfortunately for him, he was caught while trying to carry the body out of the village but he later escaped in the melee that ensued,” Terhemba narrated.

While stating that the identity of the victim was yet to be ascertained, Terhemba, however, added that the young girl hailed from a neighbouring community.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, said that the corpse of the girl had been recovered and deposited at a hospital morgue.

“We have recovered the corpse of the said young girl who was said to have visited her manfriend and taken to the mortuary after a report was received but the said Oliver is yet to be seen as he is on the run,” she stated.

The PPRO said that investigation was ongoing as the cause of death of the victim was yet unknown.