22nd June, 2015
Founder and General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has cursed kidnappers for bringing sorrow to families in the country.
Speaking during the third service at Faith Tabernacle, Ota in Ogun State, western Nigeria on Sunday, 21 June, Bishop Oyedepo told kidnappers that: “As long as I am here in Christ, your endeavours in this country are cused.”
He then added: “For all of you who continually bring sorrow to families, I curse you and your sponsors.”
He was reacting to the kidnap of Pastor Seyi Adekunle of the Calabar Province of the Winners’ Chapel located on IBB Way in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
Pastor Adekunle was kidnapped by five gunmen on Saturday, 13 June during prayers in the church in Calabar. The kidnappers later demanded for N60 million ransom.
According to reports, the kidnappers got in touch with the church authorities and Bishop Oyedepo asked to be put through to them on the phone.
Thinking he wanted to negotiate a ransom, they responded to the Bishop who then confirmed if they knew who they were speaking with.
The kidnappers replied in the affirmative. It was then Bishop Oyedepo lambasted them on the phone, saying “I curse you in the name of Jesus and anyone who pays ransom to you is cursed.”
Reports said hours after the Bishop blasted the kidnappers, they released Pastor Adekunle and fled during an attack carried out by the military and police with the use of helicopter and ground troops.
The pastor has since been re-united with his family and Bishop Oyedepo went to Calabar on Sunday evening for a thanksgiving service at Living Faith Church where he said God had a hand in the rescue of Pastor Adekunle.
The Cross River State Police Command Spokesman confirmed the pastor’s release. He said two suspects were arrested before Pastor Adekunle regained his freedom.
“No ransom was paid but we are on the trail of other accomplices and very soon I will give you more details,” he said.