Sanction ‘Healer’ Prophet Oyeniyi for Abusing an Old Woman -By Leo Igwe

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches calls on authorities to sanction a Nigerian Prophet, Oyeniyi, the leader of the African Apostolic Church. This call became necessary following a video where he was seen abusing an elderly woman during a ‘healing’ session. In this video, circulated on X, the ‘prophet’ was seen beating, violently shaking, and pushing this apparently sick woman. At some point, Oyeniyi slapped the face of the woman, spitting into her mouth. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches condemns this revulsive act that is potentially health-damaging. Beating the woman could lead to trauma and other mental health injuries. Spitting into her mouth could infect the woman with flu, cold, herpes and other viral and bacterial infections.

The authorities should investigate the activities of Oyeniyi. They should hold him to account. Oyeniyi should not be allowed to go scot-free. For instance, the post on X stated that he was engaged in ‘healing’. Oyeniyi needs to explain what he was doing in the video and what he was doing to the woman. He needs to show if he is a healer, and how and when he became a healer. Oyeniyi needs to let the public know how beating and assaulting this woman and spitting into her mouth translates into healing, and healing of which ailment?

Abuses linked to exorcism and spiritual cleansing are rampant. Pastors and prophets get away with them. Perpetrators are seldom held accountable and responsible. They are not punished for their criminal activities. Some months ago, the Advocacy for Alleged Witches drew attention to another video where some pastors abused children, flogged and bathed them with pigeon’s blood in the name of spiritual cleansing in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. The police arrested and later released the church leaders because the parents of the children agreed to the spiritual cleansing. The police may argue the same in this case that the old woman consented to the ‘healing’ process. A legal expert noted that this position of the police was a misunderstanding of the law: “The police do not have lawful powers to consent to crime. Parents do not have the power to consent to crimes. Crimes, by their very nature, are wrongs against society. They are not merely personal. That is the jurisprudence. Personal wrongs like breaches of contract or wrongs against a person are either wrongs in contract( that is, wrongs against agreements) or torts. Torts are personal wrongs. They may not, in substance or content, be any different from crimes, but once the law defines that wrong as an offence, then you cannot consent to it as to waive its consequences, or compromise its punishment”.

State authorities should rise to their duties and responsibilities, and provide leadership to the public. They should know that ‘faith healers’ are charlatans; that quacks and impostors, like Oyeniyi, constitute a nuisance to public health and well-being. Authorities should take measures to combat their criminal and health-damaging activities.