Police arrest prophetess in Ondo over ‘death of woman, newborn’

The Ondo state police command says its operatives have arrested Folashade Adekola, a prophetess, over the deaths of Jumoke Adesuwa and her newborn during childbirth.

Odunlami Ibukun, the police spokesperson in Ondo, said the deceased’s brother reported the case.

Ibukun added that the prophetess has been taken into custody at the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for investigation.

TheCable understands that Adesuwa went into labour at the prophetess’ church in the Oke-Aro area of Akure, the Ondo capital.

However, there were complications after she was delivered of the baby, resulting in severe bleeding and her eventual death.

The newborn was reportedly declared dead.

Adesuwa’s brother subsequently filed a report with the police, leading to the prophetess’ arrest.

A source said the family was informed of the childbirth through a call from the church to Adesuwa’s husband.

The husband, along with a family member, rushed to the church and found Adesuwa in critical condition.

“When we arrived, we were told the baby had died during delivery, but the mother was alive,” the family source said.

“We found her lying in a pool of her blood, bleeding heavily, so we rushed her to a nearby hospital.

“She was rejected by three hospitals due to her severe condition, and tragically, she passed away as the last hospital attempted to revive her.

“When we returned to the church to collect the baby’s body, we found the newborn’s remains in a room that was clearly unfit for delivery.”

Adesuwa’s body has since been deposited in a mortuary.