By Olu Samuel, Lokoja

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has ordered the closure of a New Generation Church,The New Jerusalem Deliverance Ministry, Okene for allegedly defrauding Members by selling”bullet proof water” and running unapproved medical facility without license.

The Pastor of the church, Peter Adeiza, a music artist turned Pastor is said to have been operating the facility since 2008 while several people was said to have allegedly lost their lives due Illegal and Unhygienic medical practice.

The order was effected on Monday by the Kogi State Security adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd) in company with the Information and Health Commissioners, Kingsley Fanwo and Dr Zekeri Usman, other government officials, Agencies and the Security Agents.

Upon entering the church premises, almost 100 people were seen in the building that was said to have been approved to be a Residential area.

It was discovered that asides housing a hospital that is used for taking deliveries and treating sicknesses, it is also used as a psychiatric and rehabilitation home as several people were seen with chains in their hands and legs.

Members and worshippers confirmed that they have been receiving treatments for different ailments from the “Man of God”.

Mary Oyiza who was chained confirmed that she had a terminal disease and got recovered after she was given anointed water by the pastor. She said that she was chained by an agent of the pastor after she recovered from her illness.

Yunusa Sanusi a member of the community said that his wife was invited to the church as a result of an internal disease that was threatening her life but she lost her life afterwards. Sanusi said “the pastor called me to come and pay for blood transfusion and I paid over Thirteen Thousand naira but he didn’t do anything”. He said that “it took the intervention of the Community before the pastor could release the corpse of my wife to me”.

According to the state security Adviser, the Pastor had earlier been areested following a preliminary investigation by the State Investigation Bureau of the Police and the Department of State Services to look into the activities going on in the church location.

Omodara Added that there are enough documented evidences that indicates that what they practice is contrary to both religious and medical practices. He said “In a couple of days, he will be arraigned in court and will be prosecuted if found guilty will face the music”.

While addressing Newsmen, the Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said “we are here for the singular purpose of carrying out the Order of the Governor to see what is happening here and see how to safeguard the interest and health of our people”.

On his part, the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Zekeri Usman said that the health of residents and citizens of Kogi state remains top priority of the government and they as government will not tolerate any act that can threaten the health and peace of its citizens.

His words “we are not here because of the spiritual things going on here because the people have the right to any religion. We are here because of medical quackery that is being practiced here where babies are being delivered by people who are not trained or licensed to carry out such acts” .

Dr. Zekeri added that ” there a lot of people with mental illness who are chained here without a qualified Medical Practitioner to operate the place. We have heard confessional statements from relatives of people who have lost their children and wives in this facility”.
The commissioner said that it is the directive of the governor to seal off the premises as well as send signals to all other worship centers that practices quackery.

He said “Kogi State Government has declared a state of Emergency on all forms of Medical quackery and the government will not spare any worship centre that is involved in such criminal act irrespective of the religion”.

Commissioner of Police Edward Egbuka represented by Okene Area Commander ACP Ibrahim Usman said that the Police and other security agencies are on ground to ensure that the premises remain sealed as well as maintain law and order.