It was a shocking moment as a pastor identified as Dr. Owen Abraham was nowhere to be found after luring members of the congregation to submit their phones and other valuable items during a crusade program in Agbowo, Ibadan, Lagos state.
The pastor had claimed he was directed by the holy spirit to tell people to submit their phones and valuables but later absconded with them.
The preacher, according to some of his victims, claimed he was led by God to come to Ibadan from Gambia for the crusade.
Victims reported that pastor Abraham who lured them to a three-day crusade fasting and prayer was nowhere to be found on the last day of the crusade with all efforts to reach him proved abortive.
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 wants to help us.
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.
