There is trusting your spiritual leader, and then there is handing over your phone to someone who apparently sees a prayer meeting as an opportunity to kickstart his dreams of becoming a vendor at Computer Village. Residents of Uromi, Edo State, have reportedly been left devastated after a self-proclaimed pastor allegedly disappeared with their mobile phones during a community prayer programme.
The unusual incident reportedly happened over the weekend when the unidentified cleric visited the community to organise a crusade.
According to reports, the pastor instructed attendees to surrender their phones at the altar before the prayer session began. The worshippers reportedly complied, believing they were following instructions from a man of God. 
However, while everyone focused on praying, the cleric allegedly made his own exit, taking the phones with him.
The discovery reportedly threw the congregation into confusion as worshippers searched desperately for the pastor, only to realise that he had disappeared with their belongings.
A video showing some of the affected residents, mostly women, crying over their missing phones and other valuables has since circulated on social media, attracting widespread attention.
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Pastor leaves congregants weeping after phone theft
Footage of the incident surfaced on X on Monday, November 9, 2026, and quickly attracted reactions from Nigerians who struggled to understand how an entire congregation could surrender its phones to a visiting preacher.
Some of the victims appeared visibly distressed in the video, with several women openly weeping over their losses.
The pastor’s identity remained unknown as at the time of filing this report, while the Edo State Police Command had yet to confirm the incident. It is also unclear how many phones the cleric allegedly took or whether the affected residents have made a formal police complaint.
For the victims, however, the loss goes beyond the price of replacing a mobile device. Smartphones often contain banking applications, personal photographs, contacts, business information and other sensitive details that could expose owners to further financial or privacy risks.
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Uromi phone theft incident brings back memories of Ibadan pastor scandal
Interestingly, this is not the first time a Nigerian pastor has allegedly used a prayer gathering to separate worshippers from their mobile phones.
In April 2023, a similar incident occurred in Aponrin, Agbowo, Ibadan, Oyo State, where a cleric reportedly disappeared with 52 mobile phones, money and other valuables belonging to worshippers.
The pastor, identified as Dr Owen Abraham, allegedly instructed attendees to surrender their belongings during a three-day crusade. He reportedly claimed that the Holy Spirit wanted them to submit their phones and valuables.
One of the victims, Grace Akintola, told journalists that the pastor had attracted residents, including widows and students, with promises of financial assistance, food supplies and scholarships. A University of Ibadan student also explained that the cleric collected the phones to prevent distractions during prayers.
However, the pastor allegedly disappeared with the belongings, prompting residents to circulate posters bearing his photograph as they attempted to locate him.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that it had commenced an investigation into the 2023 incident.
Although the circumstances surrounding the Ibadan and Uromi pastor incidents appear strikingly similar, there is no evidence linking the two cases or suggesting that the same individual was involved.
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