A Pastor identified as Dr. Owen Abraham, allegedly absconded with 52 Android and iPhones, money as well as valuables of residents who attended a crusade he organised in the Agbowo area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
It was gathered that Abraham, on the last day of the five-day crusade, claimed the Holy Spirit directed him to tell people to submit their phones and valuables but later absconded with them.
According to The Nation, some of the victims said the preacher claimed was led by God to come to Ibadan from Gambia for the crusade.
The victims said Abraham, who reportedly lured them into a three-day fasting and prayer was nowhere to be found on the last day of the crusade with all efforts to reach him proved abortive.
The Nation reported that a victim, Mrs Grace Akintola, said many widows went for the crusade because the Pastor promised to give each person a bag of rice and money, adding that Abraham also promised to grant students scholarships.
Mrs Akintola, a widow, while recounting her ordeal said:” The Pastor approached an Igbo lady in our area to assist him to gather widows and students, he said he want to help us.
“Someone in my area invited me for the crusade, the crusader wear Pastor regalia, he said he will buy house for one of us, he said the house is fully furnished.
“He promised some people who attended the crusade money, even politicians can not give out such money he promised.
“The last day of the crusade, he sold a bottle of water for us at the rate of N4,800. He said perfume was inside the bottle water, many people paid for the water.”
Another victim, a student of University of Ibadan, who pleaded anonymity, said the Pastor ordered them to fast for three days, adding that the evangelist collected their phones for safe-keeping to avoid distraction unknown to them that it was a trick to take their belongings.
“He said no phone should ring. That was why he collected all the phones, in fact, a lady stood up and wanted to snap him. He seized the phone from her.”
“On the last day of the crusade, he said he wanted to go and rest at the hotel where he lodged. He later said he wanted to go and eat at UI, we didn’t know how he escaped with our belongings.
“As a man of God, we respected him a lot. We didn’t know that he wanted to use the name of God to dupe us.”
After reporting the case at Bodija Police station, Abraham has been declared wanted by residents in the area.
Posters bearing his name and pictures have been circulated within the area to track him down.
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