Nigerian pastor disappears as police uncover mummified corpse under church floor in Cameroon
Cameroonian authorities have launched a manhunt for a self-proclaimed Nigerian prophet following the discovery of a mummified body hidden beneath a concrete slab in his church facility.
Investigators suspect the fled religious leader may be linked to broader criminal operations, including human trafficking and illegal detentions across multiple locations in the capital city of Yaoundé.
Secret grave uncovered in Nkoabang police raid
Officers from the Nkoabang Special Police Station uncovered the clandestine site inside a property operated by Mercy of God Ministry, led by Ekedi Samuel Kenechukwu (also known as Kedi Samuel).
The discovery was made after local residents vandalised parts of the compound, exposing a concealed subterranean chamber.
Upon breaking through a concrete layer, investigators excavated approximately 1.5 meters down to reveal a white-and-gold coffin with a shattered lid. Inside lay the mummified remains of a woman dressed in a blue traditional outfit featuring gold embroidery.
Police noted that the body was resting on interior padding, confirming the burial site was an informal, hidden grave rather than a standard burial plot.
Security forces have secured the premises and requested legal authorisation to conduct a comprehensive forensic search for additional human remains.
Underground bunker and trafficking ring uncovered
The discovery of the body follows a series of law enforcement operations targeting properties associated with Kenechukwu’s ministry since early September 2026:
September 6 operation (Ngousso district): Police raided a residential facility linked to the church in the Ngousso neighbourhood of Yaoundé. Officers rescued 20 captive individuals from a hidden basement, including ten women, eight men, and two young children aged six and seven.
September 9 raid (Nkoabang compound): Investigators executed a search warrant on the larger Nkoabang estate. The search revealed a massive 30-room complex equipped with five motor vehicles, functioning commercial freezers, and extensive stockpiles of food. Authorities also identified an unmapped two-meter-deep pit, prompting deeper investigation into the property’s structural modifications.
International manhunt underway for missing cleric
Kenechukwu, who has operated as a religious figure in Cameroon since 2018, vanished shortly after police began raiding his ministry’s properties.
He is officially wanted by security authorities on charges that include kidnapping, unlawful arrest, and human trafficking.
Because Kenechukwu remains at large, Cameroonian law enforcement agencies have placed border security units on high alert and requested assistance from Interpol to prevent him from fleeing across international borders.
The police investigation into the identity of the deceased woman and the full extent of the ministry’s operations remains active.
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