BEVERLY HILLS, JULY 25, (THEWILL) – Francis Taiwo, a Celestial Church of Christ pastor who starved and kept his nine-year-old son, Korede, in chains for months, has explained that his son is possessed with an evil spirit which makes him to steal.
The 40-year-old pastor who was arrested by the police from the Onipanu division at his church, CCC- Key of Joy Parish, Ajibawo, Atan, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State said he took the action because the boy ‘needed deliverance’.
Francis, in his statement to the police, confessed to the act and lamented as Korede was handed over to the Ogun State Government
“I was ordained a pastor in the CCC in 2012. I had divorced two wives, including Korede’s mother, Maria; she is late now. She had four children for me – two boys and two girls – before she divorced me in 2007 after she gave birth to Korede.
“I chained Korede because he is possessed. An evil spirit makes him to steal. He needs deliverance. His siblings are not living with me.
“I didn’t know there is punishment for my action but now I know. I regret my actions. I want forgiveness from the government.”
THEWILL recalls that the police working with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, had on Friday rescued the boy from an apartment in the church where he was chained to the altar in the church for more than a month and starved until he went into a coma in an attempt to cast out the supposed spirit that made the boy to steal.
The Ogun Police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi revealed that the boy’s health is improving as the force handed over Korede to officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development at the Zone 2 area Command, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Monday.
Story by David Oputah
