Woman dies during 14-day fasting session to save troubled marriage

The family of a woman, Joy Owoyele, mourn her death during a 14-day fast in the Isheri Olofin area of ​​Lagos State, Nigeria.

PUNCH Metro understood that Owoyele had sought spiritual help regarding his marital challenges from the Apostolic Church of Christ, Ori-Oke Gbogunmi, aka Ajanpelenbe Mountain, located on Pipeline Road, Isheri Olofin.

She was reportedly placed under 14 days of fasting and prayer, but on day 10 things took a tragic turn when she suddenly collapsed after morning prayers inside the church.

When PUNCH metro visited the church on Wednesday, resident pastor Alfred Sunday said after Owoyele lost consciousness during the spiritual exercise she was rushed to Igando General Hospital for treatment, adding that she had died in the process.

“She came for prayer and nothing more. Before the day of the incident, we had a vigil and she was fine. His fast was supposed to last 14 days, but the incident happened on the 10th day. God is my witness, there is nothing hidden here, ”he said.

“Her daughter, Oluwatise, was also with her in the church during the spiritual exercise and they always slept together. The incident happened around 7 a.m. I was praying on the altar when one of the church members informed me that she had passed out.

“When I came closer to assess her, I noticed that she couldn’t stand up and when I called her name, she answered weakly. We had to transport her to Igando General Hospital for treatment, but she died, ”he added.

The pastor explained that he went to the Idimu police station to report the incident, adding that during the investigation, the police detained him and the general overseer of the church.

He said: “When I reported the incident, the police took my statement and that of the victim’s daughter. But the general overseer and I were detained for three days, and the police also went to the church to investigate.

“But the family insisted not to bring charges and after the police investigation we were released. I met the woman’s family immediately after the incident and they accepted what happened as fate. During spiritual exercise, she fasted and prayed, and usually broke her fasts with honey and water. But on the 10th day, she became very weak and we had to rush her to the hospital to save her, but she died.

“After the incident, we insist that anyone who embarks on fasting and prayer in the church should break with the pap instead of the honey and water that we usually use. Anyone who refuses will not be allowed to engage in spiritual exercise in the church.

Other discoveries by PUNCH metro revealed that the family planned to transport the victim’s remains from the mortuary at Yaba General Hospital to his hometown in Ekiti State for funeral rites.