A pastor, Dr Owen Abraham has allegedly absconded with 52 android and iphones, money, and valuables of residents who attended a crusade organised by him in the Aponrin area of Agbowo in Ibadan.
The crusader, according to some of his victims, said he was led by God to come to Ibadan from Gambia for the crusade.
Abraham, at the last day of the three days crusade claimed Holy Spirit directed him to tell people to submit their phones and valuables, but later absconded with it.
The victims said Abraham, who lured them into three days fasting and prayer was no where to be found on the last day of the crusade, as 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 empower students with scholarship.
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 wears 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 to us at the rate of N4,800, he said perfume is inside the bottle water, many people paid for the water,” she added.
Another victim, a student of University of Ibadan (UI) who pleaded anonymity, said the pastor ordered them to fast for three days, adding that the evangelist collected their phones so as to keep and allow them focus on the prayers, unknown to them that it was a trick to get rid of 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, 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 student added.
Meanwhile, Abraham has been declared wanted by the people in the area, as posters bearing his name and pictures have been circulated within the area to track him down.
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