Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has challenged eight pastors detained over alleged fake miracle claims to publicly demonstrate their healing powers if they wish to regain their freedom.
Speaking in Awka, the governor questioned why individuals who claim to possess miraculous healing abilities limit such demonstrations to church gatherings rather than extending them to hospitals where patients are battling serious medical conditions.
According to Soludo, the state government would have no reason to continue holding the pastors if they could provide verifiable evidence of the miracles they advertise during crusades and religious services.
He challenged the clerics to heal patients suffering from conditions such as blindness, paralysis, spinal cord injuries, and other severe ailments in public health facilities, insisting that successful demonstrations would justify their claims.
The eight pastors were reportedly arrested as part of the Anambra State Government’s ongoing campaign against alleged deceptive religious practices, fraud, and misinformation.
Soludo reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting residents from exploitation disguised as religious activities, stressing that anyone found misleading the public would face the full weight of the law.
The governor’s remarks have sparked widespread debate among residents and religious groups, with many closely watching to see how the detained pastors respond to the challenge.
