The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a prophetess, Folashade Adekola, after a tragic incident involving the death of Jumoke Adesuwa and her newborn during childbirth at the prophetess’s church in Akure, the state capital.
According to reports, Adesuwa had gone into labor at Adekola’s church in the Oke-Aro area of Akure.
Following complications, she experienced severe bleeding after delivering the baby, who reportedly died immediately.
The incident was brought to the police’s attention after Adesuwa’s brother filed a report, leading to the prophetess’s arrest.
Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed Adekola’s detention, noting that she had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further questioning.
“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,” said Odunlami.
According to The PUNCH, a family source shared that the family initially learned of the childbirth through a call from the church to Adesuwa’s husband, informing him that his wife had delivered a baby.
When he and another family member arrived at the church, they found Adesuwa in critical condition.
“When we arrived, we were told the baby had died during delivery, but Adesuwa was still alive. However, she was lying in a pool of blood and bleeding profusely. We immediately took her to a nearby hospital,” the source recounted.
The family member continued, “She was turned away by three hospitals due to her critical state, and she ultimately passed away as the last hospital tried to revive her.”
Returning to the church to retrieve the newborn’s remains, the family reportedly found the baby’s body in a room described as unfit for delivery.
The family filed a report at the Oke-Aro Police Station, which led to the prophetess’s arrest. Adesuwa’s body has since been placed in a mortuary.