A Gambian pastor identified as Dr Owen Abraham is reportedly on the run after allegedly absconded with 52 phones, money and other valuables of worshippers that attended a crusade he organised at Aponrin in Agbowo area of Ibadan, Oyo.
TRIBUNE ONLINE gathered the self-styled crusader, according to some of his victims, said he was led by God to come to Ibadan from The Gambia for the crusade.
However, on the last day of the three-day crusade, Dr Abraham claimed the Holy Spirit directed him to tell people to hand in their phones and valuables, only to later abscond with them.
The victims said Abraham, who lured them into three days fasting and prayer, was nowhere to be found on the last day of the crusade, as all efforts to reach him proved abortive.
“The pastor approached an Igbo lady in our area to assist him to gather widows and students, saying he wanted to help us.
“Someone in my area invited me for the crusade. He wore pastor regalia. He said he will buy a house for one of us and that the house will be fully furnished.
“He promised some people that attended the crusade money. Even politicians cannot give out such amounts he promised.
“On the last day of the crusade, he sold a bottle of water for us at the rate of N4,800. He said perfume is inside the bottle water. Many people paid for the water,” one of the victims identified as Mrs Grace Akintola told Vanguard.
Another victim, a student of University of Ibadan (UI) who pleaded anonymity, said the pastor ordered them to fast for three days.
“He said no phone should ring, that was why he collected all the phones. In fact, a lady stood up and wanted to take his photographs but 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 don’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,” the source disclosed.
As at the time of filing this report, the Ibadan Police Command is yet to make comment on the matter.
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