‘I was warned not to buy car, house,’ pastor recounts quest for ritual wealth

An Oyo State-based pastor, Joel Olasunkanmi, recounted his experience of engaging in ritual practices to attain wealth in an interview with BBC Yoruba. According to the pastor, his involvement in rituals began about five years ago when he sought worldly pleasures and material gains. During this time, a ritualist instructed him to find a young woman he loved and perform a ritual involving sexual relations with her.

Olasunkanmi stated that this incident occurred approximately 30 years ago, after which he suffered a car accident on May 26, 2001, which led to the amputation of his leg. The ritualist demanded that he use a white handkerchief to wipe the woman's genitals and take it to him. Despite becoming wealthy through these practices, Olasunkanmi admitted he did not understand how the money came to him.

He also mentioned that the ritualist imposed limitations on how he could use his newfound wealth, prohibiting him from purchasing a car or a house. The incident involving the car that caused the accident was indirectly linked to Olasunkanmi, as he had provided the money used by someone else to buy it. Reflecting on his experience, Olasunkanmi warned young Nigerians against seeking instant wealth and urged them to be patient in their pursuits.