A Gambian Pastor, Dr. Owen Abraham have allegedly absconded with 52 Android and iphones, money, and valuables of residents of Aponrin in Agbowo, Ibadan who came for a crusade organised by him.
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 Holly 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 the last day of the crusade as all effort to reached 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 empowered 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 gathered widows and students, he said he want to help us.”
“Someone in my area invited me for the crusade, the crusader wear Pastor regalia, he said he will buy house for one of us, he said the house is fully furnished.”
“He promised some people who attend 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 for us at the rate of N4,800, he said perfume is inside the bottle water, many people paid for the water.”
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 it away from them and focus of the prayers unknowing 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 snapped 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 don’t know how he escaped with our belongings.”
“As a man of God, we respected him alot, we didn’t know that he wanted to use the name of God to duped us.”
Meanwhile, Abraham has been declared wanted by people in the area, as posters bearing his name and pictures has been circulated within the area to track him down.