Prophetess In Police Net For Child Trafficking Allegation

Ignatius Okpara, Awka – A female Pastor in one of the new generation churches and some of her members alleged to belong to a syndicate group which specialises in child trafficking, are now in police net for attempting to buy a baby yet to be born.

The Pastor, whose name was given as prophetess Kanu, is the General Overseer of her church based in Anambra state.

However, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Anambra State Police Command nabbed Kanu, and her accomplices on Saturday.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hassan Karma alleged that the prophetess had for long deceived people through the use of charms, while pretending to counsel those who besieged her with various problems.

According to the Anambra police boss, who spoke with newsmen on Saturday in Awka , the fake pastor was exposed recently when a 22-year-old old Happiness John, whose pregnancy had reached nine months was deceitfully taken by her friend, Chioma Okonkwo, to the prophetess on September 30, 2014 for counseling.

“The fake prophetess told John that she had a spiritual problem.”

Prophetess Grace was further alleged to have informed the victim that her (the prophetess’) younger brother would assist John, since no man had owned up to be responsible for the pregnancy.

“Based on what seemed like a good intent, the prophetess took the victim to her village at Ngboro in Abia State, where she spent weeks in the village believing that she would deliver the baby there.

The suspect sent her brother, Kanu to check on the victim, and promise marriage to her despite the nine-month pregnancy.

“As part of the elaborate plan to deceive the victim, Kanu bought clothes for her and also gave her N5000.

“With the stage set, the prophetess took John to meet a nurse and member of her child-trafficking syndicate, one Ifeoma Obiora, who took medical care of John.

“The victim’s phone was taken away so that she would not be able to communicate with her relations.

The police boss, said the nurse was always locking up John in the house whenever she had to go out.

“But providence stepped in as the spell fell from the eyes of the victim, when the prophetess mentioned that if she delivered a baby boy, she would be paid N180,000.

“That was when she realised what was the real intention of the prophetess. By then, John had been taken for an ultrasound scan at New Hope Hospital Onitsha.

According to Karma, an argument ensued at the hospital and the victim demanded for her phone while the Prophetess seized her bag and alleged she must pay a debt of N65,000 allegedly owed by her being the cost of caring for her.

“It was at this point that the victim quickly called her father, Mr Ugbanu John, who promptly reported the case at the SARS office.

“Acting with dispatch, Karma ordered the Commander of SARS, Mr. James Nwafor, to take up the matter. This led to the arrest of the three suspects, namely, Chioma Okonkwo, Prophetess Grace Kanu and Ifeoma Obiora, at Ugudegbe street, Owerri, Imo State, Akokwa Awada Obosi and No 24 Nwaziki street, Awada Obosi, both in Anambra State.

Commenting on the incident, the father of the victim said: “My daughter left my house on September 30, 2014 and I saw her when she was leaving around 5.00am.

“She said she was following somebody to their church. It was Chioma who took her to their prophetess, Grace Kanu.

“We didn’t see her. I thought she had run to meet her boyfriend, who impregnated her.

“It was recently that she called me that we should come and rescue her. She told me that it was what the prophetess said when she wanted to deliver that led to the crisis.

“That prompted me to report the case at SARS office.” Karma said that the three suspects would soon be charged to court.