Kogi Gov’t shuts Church, ‘The New Jerusalem’, over alleged medical quackery

The Kogi State Government has shut down a ‘Prayer House’ allegedly selling “bulletproof water” and conducting medical quackery.

The Prayer House, named ‘The New Jerusalem’, was sealed off on Monday.

Some persons mainly young women, who claimed they came for prayers had spent months at the place. Other mentally unstable persons placed under chains were also found at the centre.

The State Government’s delegation comprising the commissioner for information and communication, Kingsley Fanwo; his counterpart in health, Dr Zakari Usman; the State Security Adviser and Navy Commander, Jerry Omodara (rtd), supervised the enforcement of Governor Yahaya Bello’s directive on Monday, to close down the church.

However, Fanwo said those found at the prayer house would be reunited with their families, just as he urged residents to desist from patronising quacks.

The health commissioner said the pastor has no medical training, but was involved in “taking deliveries and transfusing blood, as well as keeping people with mental illness, and extorting money from them under the guise of spiritual materials.”

He said the Pastor of the church, Adeiza Peter, is now under investigation for alleged criminal activities, including fraud and medical quackery.

His supposed assistant, Eneji Seidu, from Adogo, Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State, said the Pastor, who was a musical artist before he received a call to be a Pastor, has been his close friend, noting that he is a true man of God who has been called to help those in need.

Seidu, who admitted that people receive medical attention at the church, said God had used the Pastor to heal many who come to the Centre with challenges.