Nigerian pastor on the run after dead body is found buried in church

A Nigerian pastor, Kedi Samuel Kenechukwu, also known as Ekedi Samuel, is currently on the run after authorities in Cameroon discovered a mummified body buried beneath a property linked to his church in Yaoundé. The cleric, who founded the Mercy of God Ministry, has been operating in Cameroon since 2018. Police officers from the Nkoabang Special Police Station found the body on September 19, during an investigation involving Kenechukwu.

The body was discovered in a white-and-gold coffin buried 1.5 meters below a concrete slab at a property in Nkoabang. Initially, the remains were thought to be that of a woman, but they appeared to have been deliberately preserved in a traditional blue outfit with gold embroidery. The investigation began after residents exposed part of the property, leading authorities to examine the area more closely.

Cameroonian authorities are awaiting authorization to conduct further searches due to concerns that additional remains could be found. The latest discovery follows a search on September 9 where investigators found five vehicles, several hundred kilograms of food, functioning freezers, about 30 rooms, and a pit about two meters deep.

On September 6, security operatives discovered 20 people, including 10 women, eight men, and two children aged six and seven, in a basement at another property linked to the ministry in Ngousso, Yaoundé. Kenechukwu is wanted by Cameroonian authorities for alleged human trafficking, kidnapping, and unlawful arrest. Authorities are currently searching for the Nigerian cleric to assist with inquiries into the alleged activities at the properties associated with his ministry.