Worshipping God By Day, Worshipping The Devil By Night: How Deep Can Hypocrisy Go? -By Isaac Asabor

If there is any story that has recently yanked the veil off the frightening depth of human hypocrisy, it is the mind-bending tale of Uche Agumba, the church-going, anointed-yoghurt-selling, bus-chartering devotee of faith, now unmasked as a suspected ritualist and kidnapper. The shockwaves this revelation has sent, not just through Aba or Enugu but across social media, are disturbing. And like the anonymous narrator who recounted the story on PressExpress, an online newspaper, I too find myself pondering a deeply unsettling question: How far can people carry the weight of hypocrisy before the truth crushes them?

Let us be blunt, the Uche Agumba case is not an isolated scandal. It is a mirror held up to a society riddled with counterfeit spirituality. This was a man who actively participated in religious activities, chartered buses from Aba to Enugu for Catholic programs, sold “anointed” water and yoghurt, and even publicly chastised others for their lack of religious commitment.

Yet, beneath the façade, he allegedly lived a life rooted in blood rituals and child abduction. That is not just hypocrisy; that is a betrayal of everything sacred. The Bible is explicit in its condemnation of such duplicity. In Matthew 23:27, Jesus did not mince words: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” This verse perfectly describes people like Uche, glittering with religious appearances but rotten inside.

What is more disturbing is not just that Uche deceived his peers, it is that he was believed. The religious image he cultivated was so convincing that no one suspected his dark under life. Even his shop, his house, and his vehicle bore religious stickers, like armor shielding him from suspicion. This is why 2 Timothy 3:5 warns us about such pretenders: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” Unfortunately, rather than turning away, society tends to celebrate these performers. We live in a time when external religiosity is mistaken for inner righteousness. Show up at church, post a few scriptures online, wear a crucifix, and you are deemed “God-fearing.”

Let us face it, many churches have lowered their guard. As long as the pews are filled and the offerings are flowing, no one questions the character behind the cash. Some pastors and leaders have become so fixated on growth and prosperity that they ignore the presence of wolves in sheep’s clothing among them.

The Bible gives a chilling reminder in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15: “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.” Churches need to stop focusing only on prosperity testimonies and start emphasizing truth and accountability. Not everyone shouting “Hallelujah” belongs to heaven.

Uche once told the narrator, “Before I get married, I must be a very wealthy man.” The ambition to succeed, even if it requires walking through hell’s doors, has become the gospel of many in Nigeria today. Ritual killings, money laundering, yahoo-yahoo, these are becoming normalized in a culture that celebrates success without scrutiny. But what does it profit a man to gain all this? In Mark 8:36, Jesus poses the question: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

The Uches of this world forget that in the end, death levels all masks. Wealth gained through blood and deceit only paves the road to eternal damnation.

Perhaps the most chilling aspect of this story is how Uche continued to live both lives simultaneously, ritualist by night, churchman by day. It echoes the message in James 1:8: “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Such instability is not just spiritual, it is societal. Because these individuals infect every space they occupy. They destroy trust, damage faith, and put innocent lives at risk.

How many more of such people are around us, hiding behind scripture-embossed cars, quoting verses they do not believe in, and masking their evil deeds in religious language?

Against the foregoing backdrop, it suffices to opine that God cannot be mocked. There is a divine warning that bears repeating now more than ever: Galatians 6:7 says “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Uche may have fooled men, churches, and his own conscience for a while. But in the end, the law of spiritual justice caught up with him. God may be patient, but He is never blind.

At this juncture, it is expedient to ask, “Where Do We Go from Here?” The response to the foregoing question cannot be farfetched as this is not just a story about a man named Uche. It is a wake-up call to every individual, every religious leader, every friend group, and every business circle. We must ask deeper questions about the people we trust, worship with, and even celebrate. We must stop equating religious performance with righteous living.

We must remember the warning in Proverbs 14:12 that says “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

This article is not a blanket condemnation of religion, it is a plea for discernment and a return to sincerity. Let those who truly serve God do so in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Let the church arise and no longer be a haven for fraudsters in religious garb.

On a final thoughts in this context, it would not be out of place for us to start unmasking the Uches among us. Without a doubt, the unmasking of Uche begs the question, “How high can hypocrisy go?” The answer cannot be farfetched as it is as high as we allow it to rise.

If we continue to judge by appearances instead of fruit, as Matthew 7:16 teaches, “By their fruit you will recognize them,” then more Uches will thrive among us. Evil will grow under the guise of sanctity, and society will pay the price.

Let us unmask the wolves. Let us stop rewarding surface-level spirituality. Let us call out deception, whether it wears white robes, preaches on pulpits, or sells holy yoghurt or olive oil in Ariaria Market.

The time has come to choose. Not just between God and the devil, but between truth and deception. Because as the Bible makes clear: “You cannot serve two masters…” Matthew 6:24 And if we continue to serve both, we will lose both

For the sake of clarity, this article is written in mourning, in anger, and in warning. May it awaken even one heart to the danger of living a lie, and the eternal cost of playing games with God.