Fake miracle syndicate nabbed, says pastor hired them

Members of a syndicate, which specialised in
confirming fake prophecies for pastors, have been
arrested by the police in Enugu State.
Our correspondent gathered that the group also
faked healings for some men of God, who
contracted and paid them for their services.
The suspected fraudsters were identified as Obi
Ejike from Ubaho Okija in Anambra State; Mary Kuku
from Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; Joy Oluwakemi from
Ojo, Lagos State; Nwosu Chizoba from Umunze,
Anambra State; and Peter Uchechi from Ebonyi
State.
They were reportedly apprehended while on their
way to Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, where they were
contracted to stage phoney miracles and healings
for an unnamed pastor in the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were
apprehended on Friday during an argument while
waiting to board a vehicle at Holy Ghost Park,
Enugu.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State
Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who
confirmed the development on Sunday, explained
that the argument among the fraudsters drew the
attention of some policemen within the premises of
the park, who interrogated them.
Amaraizu said two members of the syndicate, Ejike
and Oluwakemi, opened up on the group’s
activities.
Revelations made by the duo led to the arrest of
other members of the group at P and T bus stop,
Enugu, on Saturday, where they had assembled to
board a bus to Abakiliki, the venue of a church
service.
A member of the group, Uchechi, said they were
usually recruited in large numbers and kept in a
house from where they would shuttle to confirm
fake prophecies and stage-manage miracles for
pastors.
Uchechi said they were usually paid through a
coordinator, who acted as a middleman between
the syndicate and the pastors.
Upon their arrival in the church, a man, who works
for the pastor, would instruct the syndicate on the
nature of the assignment.
Uchechi explained that before the scheduled church
service, they would list their names and the fake
ailments they had, which would be given to the
pastor while ministering to the congregation.
During the ‘prophetic hour’ session of the service,
members of the syndicate, who were already known
to the pastor, would come out when people who
had problems were summoned to the altar.
Subsequently, members of the syndicate would
announce before the congregation that they had
received healing following the pastor’s
ministrations.
In other cases, according to Uchechi, members of
the syndicate would come out to ‘confirm’ a
prophecy, which would be made by the pastor in
the course of the service, based on the information
they provided before the session.
She added that the members of their group usually
fell under the ‘influence’ of the pastor’s anointing,
during worship sessions.
“Some pastors use us to grow their churches and
ministries and we are paid later through our
coordinator, depending on our roles,” Uchechi said.
Ejike, who explained that he worked with the
coordinator, admitted that he was in charge of the
Abakiliki job, which the group was going for when
they were apprehended.
He said he decided to go into the fake prophecy
business after his business collapsed in Lagos.
Ejike added that he was mostly involved in the
recruitment of personnel for various assignments.
Another member of the group, Chizoba, said she
started the ‘business’ in Abuja, after finding it
difficult to fend for her baby, who she had out of
wedlock.
According to her, she eventually relocated to
Onitsha, Anambra State, to team up with the
syndicate.
Two other members of the syndicate, Oluwakemi
and Kuku, claimed to be widows with four children
each, adding that hardship pushed them into the
crime.
The police spokesperson, Amaraizu, said
investigations were ongoing.