Francis Taiwo, a clergyman who chained his nine-year-old son for
several weeks, has disclosed that he took the action because he believed
his son was possessed with a ‘stealing spirit’ known in Yoruba language
as ‘emi ole.’
Mr Taiwo, pastor of the Key of Joy Celestial
Church, who has been on the run since law enforcement officers rescued
his son, Korede, from the church premises where he was chained for
weeks, was arrested yesterday.
Narrating his case to the police,
Korede’s father said, “I chained my son because I felt he is possessed
and I’m not comfortable with his stealing habit,” a police source who
witnessed the interrogation quoted the suspect as saying.
The
40-year-old suspect, who hails from Benin Republic, said he was born in
Ota Town of Ogun State and that he rose to be a pastor in the Celestial
Church and was ordained in 2012.
He also told officials that he
married Korede’s mother who bore four children for him before their
divorce in 2007 and that the victim’s mother, Marine Taiwo, was from
Delta State and Korede’s siblings were not living with him.
The church has already distanced itself from the controversial pastor.
“All
we can say is that the man is not a registered or recognised pastor in
the CCC,” a church official from the Lagos headquarters told journalists
on Saturday.
No comments:
Post a Comment