A Nigerian woman reportedly suffered severe burns after being set ablaze by a pastor who was allegedly attempting to perform a deliverance, a spiritual effort to rid a person of demonic evil.
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The deliverance of 21-year-old victim Sukura Owodunni is said to have unfolded Aug. 17, 2023, in the Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria.
Owodunni allegedly met a pastor at the Cherubim and Seraphim Maberu Parish for what PUNCH Metro called a “special prayer at the pastor’s invitation.”
The preacher performing the deliverance reportedly told the woman to bring perfume, eggs, and a candle. The faith leader is said to have placed the perfume on the victim before lighting the candle and igniting a fire that severely burned her.
The tragic case led to an arrest, as the victim faced medical needs due to what unfolded. SP Omolola Odutola, a public relations officer for authorities, told PUNCH Metro an investigation is ongoing.
According to Odutola, Owodunni was “abandoned” to cover medical expenses after requiring hospitalization to treat her severe burns.
“Our men have arrested the suspect,” she said. “The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department after the preliminary investigation is perfected.”
Some of the details of the case are still emerging, though it should be noted deliverance ministry — the casting out of demons — doesn’t typically involve such tools or tactics. Many who partake look to Scripture to continue Jesus’ ministry of spiritually healing those afflicted by evil.
The rise of deliverance ministry in some quarters is growing, though the broader concepts of demonic oppression and possession have been discussed in secular and Christian sectors for millennia.
Mike Signorelli, pastor of V1 Church in New York City, recently told CBN’s Faithwire about his deliverance efforts, responded to critics’ questions, and explored what it means to achieve spiritual healing.
“The word ‘deliverance’ is not in the Bible; it’s a newer word,” Signorelli said earlier this year. “You’re not going to find a deliverance ministry in the Bible. What you will find is Jesus casting out demons, you’re going to find His disciples casting out demons, you’re going to find Him commissioning 70 people to go do it.”
For more on deliverance, exorcism, and the expulsion of evil, read what Signorelli had to say.
While the removal of evil is seen throughout the Bible, the allegations in this story remind us of the importance of sticking to Scripture and ensuring safety when dealing with such sensitive issues.
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