Ondo Police Begin Investigation Into Alleged Fetish Practices In Akure Church

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The Ondo state police command have began proper investigation into some allegations levelled against Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi, the founder of the Promised Land Prophetic Ministry (formerly Christ Apostolic Church Promised Land), Akure, on engagement in fetish practices.

It would be recalled that men of the police force in the state on Tuesday invaded the church located at the Shasha area along Akure-Owo highway, Akure and dug the altar where placenta and body of a dead baby were alleged to have been planted by the founder in order to draw more people to the church.

The policemen were said to have been sent from the office of the Inspector-General of Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

It was gathered that, things fell apart between the embattled pastor and some foundation members after he broke away from CAC and changed the name of the church some years ago.

A source at the church who preferred anonymity told Journalists that the policemen visited the church based on petition by former members of the church and a counter petition written to the IGP by Pastor Akinbiyi.

The source said, “the former members also observed that the pastor planted some fetish materials at the altar. Many of them left the church. They also wrote a petition to the police to investigate the pastor. That must have been what made the policemen to dig up the altar.

“After police operations, nothing is discovered at the altar”.

But Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, said the policemen went to the church as part of the ongoing investigation into some allegations against the pastor.

PPRO said, “There are some allegations against the pastor of the church, but we can’t disclose them until after our investigation. What our men did in the church was part of the ongoing investigation.”

However, as at the time filing this report, it was learnt that Pastor Akinbiyi was currently at the police headquarters, Igbatoro road, for interrogations.