The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) has welcomed the arrest of a controversial Anambra pastor, Onyebuchi Okocha, A. K. A. Onyeze Jesus.
The police in Anambra reportedly arrested Pastor Okocha on January 27, 2020 and the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, CSP Haruna Mohammed, confirmed that Onyeze Jesus was in police custody.
The police said the pastor was invited for questioning, but declined to make further comments on the matter because investigation was ongoing.
Onyeze Jesus had scheduled today, January 28, 2021, to raise dead bodies, and the government in Anambra State had earlier warned against his ‘criminal and indecent conduct in the name of religion’.
The State Ministry of Health had directed hospitals and mortuaries not to allow Onyeze Jesus to use their facilities to carry out the planned raising of seven corpses from the dead.
AfAW, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Leo Igwe, commended the police and government of Anambra State for “apprehending this religious loose cannon called Onyeze Jesus and for taking prompt measures to address the promotion of superstition in the State.
“Superstitious nonsense is destroying the state of Anambra and hampering its growth and development.
“Onyeze Jesus should be tried and punished according to the law to deter other religious mischief-makers. AfAW wishes to inform the government that religious exploitation is pervasive in Anambra State.
“There are many Onyeze Jesus operating and conning gullible persons in different parts of the state. The police should extend their investigation to other religious con artists and fraudulent religious ministries in the state.”