◗ Chains victim to a tree for 7-day dry fast after charging N24,000 healing fee

Ngozi Uwujare

A prophet and General Overseer of God Revival Prayer Ministry, based in Ughelli, Delta state is now explaining to police detectives why he chained and beat to death a sick man brought to him for spiritual healing.

The 55-year-old Prophet Moses Urovbu was arrested for allegedly beating 30-year-old Monday Edjedjere taken to him for healing to death in his church premises at Evwreni community, Ughelli North Local Government area of Delta State.

Saturday Sun gathered that Urovbu had placed the deceased on seven days dry fast, that is, fasting without food or water. To compound the condition of an already sick man, Edjedjere was chained to a coconut tree at the back of the church during the duration of the dry fast. The last straw: the deceased was constantly beaten till he became too weak and gave up the ghost.

The ugly incident happened on April 2, when the deceased’s brother, Michael Edjedjere reported the case at Ughelli Police Station following which policemen arrested Prophet Moses Urovbu and subsequently transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department, of the Delta Police Command, Asaba.

The search for healing

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Mustapha told Saturday Sun: on March 28, the victim, Monday Edjedjere was taken to Prophet Urovbu for prayer and healing by the mother of the deceased. According to him the church General Overseer billed the troubled mother N24,000, out of which she was able to pay N8,000 and thereafter returned to her Awsha community home leaving her son in the care of Prophet Urovbu. He further added her return to the church three days after, precisely on March 30, the woman met her son chained to a coconut tree with injuries all over his body.

The G.O’s story

While narrating what happened, the suspect, Prophet Urovbu told Saturday Sun that “I am the General Overseer of God Revival Prayer Ministry. I started my ministry in 1989. I have a large congregation spread across four branches of my church in Warri, Ughelli, Ewu, and Bayelsa State. I do pray for all kinds of people who are sick in my church.

“It was the mother of the deceased that brought him to my church because he was suffering from madness. I admitted him for prayers and billed them N24, 000 and the mother paid just N8, 000. I put the deceased on seven days dry fast. He started proving stubborn and broke the church plastic chairs. As a result, my pastors joined me and we chained him to a tree at the back of the church. The injuries on his body were sustained while flogging him with holy water cane so that he can be healed.”

The embattled General Overseer added that Edjedjere died the day the mother came requesting to take him away. “It was when the mother discovered the condition of her son was not improving that she said I should release him to them. I refused because I can handle the situation. Unfortunately, the boy fell down, collapsed and died. On that fateful day, I still discharged five people who had similar sickness and I healed them and they are right in their houses now.”

Family angry

Brother of the deceased, Michael Edjedjere however blamed the prophet for the unfortunate incident. He said: “when my mother told me about the critical condition of my brother, Monday, I felt bad especially when I heard he was chained by Prophet Moses. I called Prophet Moses on phone and told him that he should release my brother to me to take him to the hospital. But the prophet refused, boasting that he will heal him.

“It was two days later, my mother called me that my brother is dead. I didn’t believe it. I quickly rushed to Ughelli Police Station to report the case and that was how he was arrested.” In her own account, mother of the deceased Elizabeth Moway stated that she took her soon to the prophet for healing because she is a member of his church.

Police reacts

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Asaba, Mr. Wale Abbas confirmed the arrest of the prophet. “Prophet Moses Urovbu is in our custody; he was alleged to have chained and beaten a sick man to death during deliverance. The corpse of the deceased, Monday Edjedjere has already been deposited at Central Hospital mortuary, Ughelli.” Also, the state Commissioner of Police Mohammed Mustapha stated that the prophet remains in custody because he is still under investigation.