In a shocking incident that has left many in disbelief, a Gambian pastor by the name of Dr. Owen Abraham has allegedly absconded with the valuables of worshippers who attended a crusade he organized in Aponrin, Agbowo area of Ibadan, Oyo State. According to some of his victims, Abraham claimed to have been led by God to come to Ibadan from The Gambia for the crusade.
During the three-day crusade, Abraham, on the last day, directed people to hand in their phones and valuables, claiming that the Holy Spirit had directed him to do so. The victims, who had been lured into fasting and prayer, were shocked to find that the pastor was nowhere to be found on the last day of the crusade, and that he had absconded with their belongings.
One of the victims, Mrs. Grace Akintola, revealed that many widows attended the crusade because the Gambian Pastor had promised to give each person a bag of rice and money, in addition to promising to empower students with scholarships. Mrs. Akintola, who is a widow herself, stated that the pastor had approached an Igbo lady in their area to assist him in gathering widows and students, claiming that he wanted to help them.
In addition to the promises of financial aid, Abraham had also reportedly sold a bottle of water for N4,800, claiming that it contained perfume, and many people had paid for it. Another victim, who is a student at the University of Ibadan, revealed that the pastor had ordered them to fast for three days and had collected their phones, claiming that it was to help them focus on their prayers.
It is unclear how Abraham escaped with the victims’ belongings, but many are now looking for him. Posters bearing his name and pictures have been circulated in the area, and he has been declared wanted by the local people. This incident has caused widespread outrage and disappointment, with many expressing their disappointment in the pastor’s actions and questioning the authenticity of his claims to be a man of God.