Nigerian pastor goes into hiding after body found in Cameroon church

A Nigerian pastor wanted by Cameroonian authorities is now hiding after a mummified body was found buried under a concrete slab at a property linked to his church in Yaoundé.

Cameroon Tribune reported on Tuesday that the body was discovered on September 19 around 9am by officers from the Nkoabang Special Police Station. This was during an investigation involving Kedi Samuel Kenechukwu, also known as Ekedi Samuel.

Kenechukwu is the founder of Mercy of God Ministry. He is wanted by security officials for serious allegations, including human trafficking, arrest, and kidnapping. Several news outlets in Cameroon have covered the story, with Camer.be calling Kenechukwu “a Nigerian prophet operating in Cameroon since 2018.”

According to Cameroon Tribune, investigators found a white-and-gold coffin buried about 1.5 metres deep under a concrete slab at the Nkoabang property. The body was noted to be in a state of mummification.

“The lid is broken. Inside, a body, a lady at first sight, dressed in a traditional blue outfit with gold embroidery, in a state of mummification, rests on a padding. This is not a normal grave,” the newspaper reported.

Cameroon Tribune also stated that the discovery happened after residents vandalised parts of the property. This led investigators to find the hidden underground area. At the time of the report, security officers were still waiting for permission to search the site further for possible remains.

The identity of the deceased and the details surrounding her death have not yet been confirmed. The body was found about 10 days after a previous search of the same Nkoabang property on September 9.

During that earlier operation, investigators reportedly found five vehicles, several hundred kilograms of food, functioning freezers, and around 30 rooms on the property. They also discovered a pit about two metres deep, but its purpose was not clear at that time.

The Nkoabang investigation followed another search at a property connected to Mercy of God Ministry in Ngousso, Yaoundé, on September 6. There, twenty people, ten women, eight men, and two children aged six and seven, were reportedly found in a basement.

These discoveries led security agencies to look into other locations linked to the ministry. Kenechukwu is still on the run, with Cameroonian authorities notifying border police and involving Interpol to help find him.

The investigation into the activities at the properties and the circumstances around the newly discovered body is ongoing.