Adejoke's mother, Deborah, narrated that her daughter left home without any notice, and she was found dead on the floor of the church with her pant removed down her legs. The victim's mother reported the case at the police station in Idanre, and the pastor was arrested.
However, the pastor denied the allegations of rape and murder, stating that he gave Adejoke a room to stay in the church after she sought accommodation pending when she would get a place to stay. Pastor Salami claimed that he always informed her whenever he was going out or coming in through the only door linking his room and the room given to her to stay.
He further stated that they did vigil together in the church, and he saw her the next morning before going to work, and she came to charge her phone around 2 pm, collected it around 4 pm. He added that he cannot explain how she died, as he did not rape her.
The victim's mother explained that she discovered her daughter's whereabouts through her cousin's phone number and found her in the church, where she complained about foodstuffs. Deborah promised to bring some for her the following day and pleaded with her to leave the place, but Adejoke declined.
The next day, when Deborah got to the church, she heard her grandchild crying profusely, and she forced the door open to discover her daughter's lifeless body.
The case has generated public outrage, with many Nigerians demanding justice for Adejoke. The state police spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident and stated that the suspect is in custody, and the investigation is ongoing. She assured the public that the police would do everything possible to ensure justice is served.
Many have called for a thorough investigation into the incident and justice for the victim, as rape and gender-based violence continue to be prevalent in Nigeria.
The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of women and children in religious institutions and the need for proper regulation and monitoring. The government and relevant authorities have been urged to take action to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future and ensure the safety and protection of citizens.