Metro

Rogue pastor who delivers false prophecy, rob victims, arrested

Published

8 years ago

July 31, 2016

Mimiko’s security aide gunned down by robbers

A fake pastor identified as Delight Arinze Okorie of the Watered Ground Ministry who has been under watch for his atrocities is now cooling his heels in police net.

The 45-year-old pastor was arrested by men of the Imo State Police Command, Owerri, after several petitions were written against him over his fraudulent dealings with unsuspecting members of his congregation.

Speaking while being paraded by security operatives, Okorie who had been placed on watch by the police said; “I have been in pastoral ministry for over 10 years. When some of my members or the friends they bring, come to tell me about their problems, I always give them fake prophecies. If I discover that they have money, I use the opportunity to rob them by setting them up with the fake prophecies.”

The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, also revealed how Okorie attempted to murder one of his church members, 35-year-old Mrs. Chioma Oleka at Atta in Ihennasa, Njaba Local Government Area, Imo State, when he falsely claimed she was possessed with marine spirit.

Lakanu also informed that on May 25, 2016, Okorie lured Oleka to Nwangele river, where she was to ostensibly undergo special deliverance prayer.

He said the lady drove her Lexus SUV with a Rivers State registration number, KPR 243HF to keep the appointment for prayers and deliverance not knowing Okorie had other plans.

Okorie later recounted what transpired when Oleka arrived for prayers at Nwagele river.

“As we were praying on the bridge, I went to the back of the vehicle and picked up a machete. I gave her several cuts all over her body with the intention to kill her. Then I pushed her from the top of the bridge into the river for her to drown. Some members of my gang, who pretend to be members of my church, who went with me then escaped with the SUV, when we sighted a police patrol team.”

But despite the horrendous treatment metted out to her with the intention of killing her, Oleka did not die but lived to tell her story as she tabled the matter to the police after she recuperated from the incident.

She reveals her own side of the story; “Before this thing happened I had been attending Watered Ground Ministry, the church headed by Pastor Okorie. He always prophesied in the church and one day he said that I had a mermaid (marine or mammywater) spirit. He said I had to go for special deliverance prayer not knowing that he wanted to rob and murder me.

“During the prayer session, he suddenly pushed me from the top of the bridge into the river. He gave me machete cuts thinking that I would die. But a police patrol team rescued me, took me to the hospital. I think I have learnt my lesson, that there are many false pastors all over the place; we need God’s intervention.” She said.

Okorie and his gang moved on with their lives thinking Oleka was dead and gone for months not knowing that they were under surveillance by the police.

He was later arrested alongside members of his gang, in possesion of arms and ammunition while Oleka’s Lexus SUV was also recovered.

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