A suspected fake pastor has allegedly disappeared with several mobile phones after reportedly asking worshippers to surrender their devices at an altar during a prayer programme in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The incident, which has sparked reactions on social media, reportedly occurred when the self-proclaimed man of God organised a community prayer gathering and instructed participants to drop their mobile phones before the spiritual exercise could begin.
Trusting his instructions, the unsuspecting worshippers allegedly handed over their phones, believing they were complying with a religious directive.
However, while participants were engrossed in prayers, the supposed pastor reportedly seized the opportunity to disappear with the collected devices, leaving the worshippers shocked and stranded.
The alleged incident has raised concerns over the activities of individuals exploiting religious gatherings to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Beyond the financial loss, the victims could also face privacy and security risks, as mobile phones contain sensitive personal information, banking applications, business contacts, photographs and important documents.
As of the time of filing this report, the Edo State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Further details, including the identity and whereabouts of the alleged suspect and the number of phones reportedly stolen, remain unclear.
