The police in Rivers State have arrested Prophet Umueke Miracle, the leader of Dynamic Flame of Fire Ministries, for unlawfully detaining his wife, Success Miracle, for five days in a house in the GRA area of Port Harcourt.
Success was rescued on Sunday after a police team, led by DPO Abacha, stormed the house where she was allegedly held against her will.
The police commissioner, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, confirmed the arrest, stating, “I have told them to take him to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The Deputy Commissioner will handle it there.”
Pastor Detained Wife Over Secret Bank Account
Success revealed to the police that her husband had prevented her from having financial independence since their marriage in 2017. According to her, Prophet Miracle imposed strict rules forbidding her from opening a bank account or having personal money, yet he did not provide for her financial needs.
“Anytime we had issues, he would put me under house arrest. He made it clear that I should not have my own money or even open a bank account, but he wasn’t giving me money either,” she told the police.
Faced with financial struggles, Success secretly opened an Access Bank account and started a small business selling water and other supplies for the church. Some ministry staff helped her deposit money into the account. However, Prophet Miracle later discovered it and allegedly tricked bank staff into revealing her account balance by claiming he wanted to deposit ₦500 million.
“When he found out, he accused me of stealing his money and running a business under his ministry without his permission,” Success said.
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Forced Detention and Police Rescue
On Tuesday night, Prophet Miracle allegedly forced his wife into his car and took her to a house in GRA, where he seized her phones to prevent her from reaching anyone.
“He told me he was going to sue me and has kept me here since Tuesday night. It’s not a prison; it’s a normal house that I think he rented,” Success recounted.
Amid allegations that the pastor had strong connections within the police, SaharaReporters contacted CP Adepoju, who denied any involvement and ordered an immediate rescue operation.
“I don’t know any pastor. How can I allow someone to be locked inside a house? Am I an animal? Even a DPO would not allow that,” the commissioner stated.
Prophet Miracle Denies Allegations
When confronted by the police at his house, Prophet Miracle denied detaining his wife. He insisted that as her husband, he should be spoken to first before the commissioner could talk to his wife.
Although he was asked to accompany the police to the station, he claimed he needed to preach in church since it was a Sunday. The police allowed him to proceed with his service but took Success to the station for questioning.
At the station, Success confirmed years of financial and emotional abuse in her marriage, stating that her husband had been acquiring properties in his name while engaging in extramarital affairs.
Despite Prophet Miracle’s denial, the police have taken him into custody for further investigation. The case has sparked outrage, with many calling for justice for Success and stricter actions against domestic abuse, even within religious settings.