The Government in Kogi State has sealed a church known New Jerusalem Deliverance Ministry, located in Ageva, Okene Local Government Area of the state for alleged unwholesome practices.
It is reported that the pastor of the church identified as Adeiza Peter was arrested over allegations of running labour wards for pregnant women in his church and selling “bulletproof” water to the people.
The pastor who has been operating the church since 2008 is currently being investigated by the police for criminal activities ranging from fraud, use of his prayer house for medical quackery, by taking deliveries and also running a psychiatric services even when it has been discovered he has no medical training.
Over 100 people mainly young women who claimed they came for prayer and had been spent months at the place, including others mentally unstable placed under chains were moved out of the prayer house at the time it was sealed on Monday afternoon, September 26, 2022.
The state government delegation comprising, the commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, his counterpart in health, Dr Zakari Usman, the State Security Adviser and Navy Commander Jerry Omodara(rtd) supervised the enforcement of Governor Yahaya Bello’s directive.
The number of deaths have been recorded at the prayer house, is said to have included pregnant women and others suffering from various ailments, after charging their relatives huge sum of money.
His supposed assistant, Eneji Seidu, revealed that the Pastor who was a musical artist before he received a call to be a Pastor has been his close friend, insisting that he is a true man of God who have been called to help those in need.
He admitted that people receives medical attention at the Church, but denied knowledge of deaths of sick people at the prayer house, saying God had used the Pastor to heal many who comes with challenges.