A self-acclaimed pastor, identified as Prophet Emmanuel (surname withheld), has allegedly beaten his wife to coma and broken her leg. The prophet also reportedly chained his son within the church premises at Berger area of the Lagos metropolis. Emmanuel was arrested by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) and later handed over to the police at Surulere Police Station. New telegraph reports:
According to DSVRT officials, at the time of his arrest, the prophet, who claimed to possess healing powers, also have 32 other church members in chains. They were said to have come for spiritual/mental healing. It was gathered that Emmanuel had a misunderstanding with his wife which made him beat her. He broke her leg in the process. Speaking on the incident, the DSVRT Coordinator, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, described the incident as ridiculous and unlawful. Vivour-Adeniyi said the state government would not condone domestic violence and urged the victims of sexual and gender-based violence to speak out.
According to her, the government is ready to fight all such causes and ensure justice is done. She said: “The prophet who lives at … Close Unity Estate, Imodium, Berger, Lagos, beat his wife, Funke, and broke her leg. He also beat his two sons and chained one of the sons while one of them ran away from the house. “He claims to be a prophet with healing powers.
All incidents took place in his church. There were 32 people in chains whom he claimed were being treated for mental illness. Information was received through the Lagos State distress call service.” Vivour-Adeniyi added that the team would ensure justice in the matter.
However, there was a dramatic twist to the case yesterday when senior police officer handling the case at Surulere Police Station said the man had been released based on the denial of the wife and his sons, who did not want their father to be jailed for domestic violence. The officer, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The woman came to us and denied being attacked. Truly, her leg was broken and there were scars on her face, which showed that she was truly attacked. But we ran into difficulties when the woman denied that she was not beaten by her husband.
