Members
of a syndicate, which specialised in confirming fake prophecies for pastors,
have been arrested by the police in Enugu State.
It
was gathered that the group also faked healings for some men of God, who
contracted and paid them for their services.
The
suspected fraudsters were identified as Obi Ejike from Ubaho Okija in Anambra
State; Mary Kuku from Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; Joy Oluwakemi from Ojo, Lagos State;
Nwosu Chizoba from Umunze, Anambra State; and Peter Uchechi from Ebonyi State.
They
were reportedly apprehended while on their way to Abakiliki, Ebonyi State,
where they were contracted to stage phoney miracles and healings for an unnamed
pastor in the state.
It was learnt that the
suspects were apprehended on Friday during an argument while waiting to board a
vehicle at Holy Ghost Park, Enugu.
The
Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere
Amaraizu, who confirmed the development on Sunday, explained that the argument
among the fraudsters drew the attention of some policemen within the premises
of the park, who interrogated them.
Amaraizu
said two members of the syndicate, Ejike and Oluwakemi, opened up on the
group’s activities.
Revelations
made by the duo led to the arrest of other members of the group at P and T bus
stop, Enugu, on Saturday, where they had assembled to board a bus to Abakiliki,
the venue of a church service.
A
member of the group, Uchechi, said they were usually recruited in large numbers
and kept in a house from where they would shuttle to confirm fake prophecies
and stage-manage miracles for pastors.
Uchechi
said they were usually paid through a coordinator, who acted as a middleman
between the syndicate and the pastors.
Upon
their arrival in the church, a man, who works for the pastor, would instruct
the syndicate on the nature of the assignment.
Uchechi
explained that before the scheduled church service, they would list their names
and the fake ailments they had, which would be given to the pastor while
ministering to the congregation.
During
the ‘prophetic hour’ session of the service, members of the syndicate, who were
already known to the pastor, would come out when people who had problems were summoned
to the altar.
Subsequently,
members of the syndicate would announce before the congregation that they had
received healing following the pastor’s ministrations.
In
other cases, according to Uchechi, members of the syndicate would come out to
‘confirm’ a prophecy, which would be made by the pastor in the course of the
service, based on the information they provided before the session.
She
added that the members of their group usually fell under the ‘influence’ of the
pastor’s anointing, during worship sessions.
“Some
pastors use us to grow their churches and ministries and we are paid later
through our coordinator, depending on our roles,” Uchechi said.
Ejike,
who explained that he worked with the coordinator, admitted that he was in
charge of the Abakiliki job, which the group was going for when they were
apprehended.
He
said he decided to go into the fake prophecy business after his business
collapsed in Lagos.
Ejike
added that he was mostly involved in the recruitment of personnel for various
assignments.
Another
member of the group, Chizoba, said she started the ‘business’ in Abuja, after
finding it difficult to fend for her baby, who she had out of wedlock.
According
to her, she eventually relocated to Onitsha, Anambra State, to team up with the
syndicate.
Two
other members of the syndicate, Oluwakemi and Kuku, claimed to be widows with
four children each, adding that hardship pushed them into the crime.
The
police spokesperson, Amaraizu, said investigations were ongoing.
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