A Nigerian pastor identified as Kenechukwu has been declared wanted by Cameroonian authorities after a mummified body was discovered buried beneath a concrete slab at a property linked to his church in Yaoundé.
Confirming the development on Tuesday night to First Daily correspondent, a closed source and a church member who pleaded anonymity for security reasons said the body was found on September 19 at about 9am by officers of the Nkoabang Special Police Station during an ongoing investigation involving Kedi Samuel Kenechukwu, also known as Ekedi Samuel.
Kenechukwu is the founder of Mercy of God Ministry and is currently wanted by security authorities over allegations including human trafficking, arrest and kidnapping.
Several Cameroonian news outlets have also reported on the case, with Camer . be describing Kenechukwu as “a Nigerian prophet operating in Cameroon since 2018.”
According to a Cameroonian media known as Tribune, investigators discovered a white-and-gold coffin buried about 1.5 metres beneath a concrete slab at the property in Nkoabang.
“The lid is broken. Inside, a body, a lady at first sight, dressed in a traditional blue outfit with gold embroidery, in a state of mummification, rests on a padding. This is not a normal grave,” the newspaper said.
Cameroon Tribune reported that the discovery was made after residents vandalised parts of the property, leading investigators to uncover the concealed underground area.
At the time of the report, security officers were still awaiting authorisation to conduct further searches of the site for possible remains.
The identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding the death had not been established.
The discovery came about 10 days after a search of the same Nkoabang property on September 9.
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During that operation, investigators reportedly found five vehicles, several hundred kilogrammes of food, functioning freezers and about 30 rooms on the property.
They also discovered a pit about two metres deep, although its purpose had not been established at the time.
The Nkoabang investigation followed an earlier operation at a property associated with Mercy of God Ministry in Ngousso, Yaoundé, on September 6.
Twenty people — 10 women, eight men and two children aged six and seven — were reportedly found in a basement at the property.
The discoveries prompted security agencies to investigate other locations allegedly connected to the ministry.
Kenechukwu remains at large, with Cameroonian authorities reportedly alerting border police and involving Interpol in efforts to locate him.
The investigation into the activities at the properties and the circumstances surrounding the newly discovered body is ongoing.