The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a prophetess, Folashade Adekola, in connection with the deaths of a woman, Jumoke Adesuwa, and her newborn child. The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday at Adekola’s church in Akure’s Oke-Aro neighborhood, where Adesuwa reportedly gave birth under the prophetess’s care and suffered severe bleeding after the delivery.
According to reports, the newborn died immediately after birth. Adesuwa’s condition worsened as she experienced heavy bleeding, and despite efforts to save her, she too tragically passed away shortly afterward. The incident was reported to the police by Adesuwa’s brother, who alerted authorities about his sister’s death.
In a statement, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest of Adekola. “The case was reported by the deceased’s brother who informed us that his sister died after childbirth in the church. The prophetess is now in custody, and investigations are ongoing,” Odunlami said, adding that the prophetess had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further questioning.
According to a family source, the first notification of the birth came via a phone call from the church, informing Adesuwa’s husband that his wife had delivered. Upon arrival at the church, the family was initially told that the baby had died but that the mother was still alive. “When we arrived, we were told the baby had died during delivery, but the mother was alive. However, we found her lying in a pool of her blood, bleeding profusely,” the family member recounted.
The family rushed Adesuwa to a nearby hospital, but unfortunately, she was turned away by three different medical facilities due to the severity of her condition. “She was rejected by three hospitals due to her severe condition, and tragically, she passed away as the last hospital attempted to revive her,” the source explained. In addition to the loss of Adesuwa, the family discovered the baby’s body in a room at the church that was deemed inappropriate for childbirth. “When we returned to the church to retrieve the baby’s remains, we found the newborn’s body in a room that was clearly unfit for delivery,” the source added.
Following the family’s report, the prophetess was arrested by the Oke-Aro Police Station and taken into custody. Adekola’s detention has sparked concern about the safety of childbirth practices in non-medical settings and the role of religious figures in such sensitive matters. The remains of Adesuwa have been deposited in a mortuary as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths.
As of now, police are continuing their investigation into the incident, with the prophetess facing questions about her role in the deaths. Authorities are expected to provide further details as the investigation unfolds.
