Church Condemns Use of Spiritual Practices for Online Fraudsters

In a bold move, the Cherubim and Seraphim, C&S, Church Worldwide has urged its prophets to cease conducting rituals for youths involved in internet fraud, also known as "Yahoo Yahoo." The call was made during a pre-centenary revival in Osogbo on Monday.

According to Senior Apostle Samuel Onigbinde, Chairman of C&S Unification in Osun State, the church’s mission is to eliminate unorthodox practices within its fold. Onigbinde emphasized that fraudulent rituals conducted by so-called prophets are against the true teachings of the church’s founder, Moses Orimolade, who focused on healing through prayer, fasting, and divine intervention, not spirit conjuring.

"This is not what our founder intended," Onigbinde said. "C&S is not a refuge for ‘Yahoo boys,’ and prophets using our white garment to perform such rituals must stop."

To ensure compliance, the church has formed a committee to monitor and enforce the adherence to the doctrines of Prophet Orimolade.

The church’s conviction comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with a surge in crime rates, which Pastor Olusegun Elijah, the convener of the pre-centenary revival, attributes to the proliferation of churches. According to Elijah, many individuals are opening churches for personal gain rather than spiritual leadership, leading to a sense of spiritual bankruptcy.

The proliferation of churches is linked to widespread unemployment in Nigeria, and Elijah warns that this is contributing to a rise in crime rates. He added that many clergy members are now aligning with the political class, making it difficult to hold politicians accountable.

Elijah called on religious leaders to disengage from political fraternisation and maintain their role as moral watchdogs. The church’s bold move to condemn the use of spiritual practices for online fraudsters sends a clear message that it will not tolerate such practices within its fold.