A 45-year-old man, Osayande Ekhator, has lost his life during a 'deliverance session' at a church in Benin City, Edo State.
Tribune Online gathered that Ekhator was taken to Hope Ministry, also known as Holy Ghost Deliverance Centre, located at Okwanga Street, Uselu, Egor Local Government Area, by his family members for 'spiritual cleansing' on Monday due to an undisclosed ailment.
Noise from the church was said to have caught the attention of neighbours who discovered the body of the deceased inside the church.
The incident reportedly drew to the church a large crowd, who came to catch a glimpse of the dead man.
Tribune Online gathered that some youths later came to the church and vandalised property.
The father of the deceased, Pa Ekhator, described the deliverance session as 'inhuman,' adding that the hands and legs of his late son were tied.
"They forced him, tied him and threw him on the floor. From there, they carried a bucket of water and poured on his body.
"The mother asked why. They said that was what they usually do; that after struggling, they wanted him to have rest and cool down. After about five minutes, she came home, crying that Osayande was dead," he said.
The late Osayande's sister accused the church of beating her brother to death.
"They beat him to death. The removed the clothes he came with, bathed him and wore another clothes for him.
The presiding pastor of the church, Mrs. Isoken Ekundaye, however, denied the allegations.
"We don't kill here. We don't beat here. If they bring insane people, we heal," Ekundaye said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Stephen Onwochei, said the pastor has been arrested while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation.
Source: Tribune
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