The founder and presiding bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has stirred widespread reactions after recounting incidents in which abducted members of his church were allegedly released following his intervention.
Speaking during a church service, the prominent Pentecostal leader narrated how one of his pastors was kidnapped, claiming he instructed that his phone number be handed to the abductors.
According to him, he issued a firm warning that the victim must be released within 24 hours.
“One time, one of our pastors was carried by kidnappers. I said give them the phone and told them that within 24 hours, if you don’t release him, you are dead. The place was vibrating on the spot, and he was released,” he said.
Oyedepo further told congregants that anyone abducted should give his number to their captors, declaring that failure to secure their release would call into question his divine mandate.
“If anybody picks you, give them my number. If he is not cut down, then I am not God-sent,” he stated.
In another account, he claimed that a female member of his church was kidnapped but secured her freedom after invoking his earlier declaration.
According to him, the victim told her captors that her release had already been determined.
“Another time, one of my daughters was captured somewhere and she told them my father said I am getting out of here latest 7am. I didn’t even speak with them, but that was how they started cutting themselves and told her to go,” he added.
The bishop used the testimonies to encourage his congregation to resist fear, emphasising that believers possess spiritual authority over adversity.
His remarks come against the backdrop of Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges, particularly incidents of kidnapping for ransom across several parts of the country.
