Port Harcourt, Nigeria — A well-known religious leader, Prophet Umueke Miracle of the Dynamic Flame of Fire and Miracle Ministries, has been arrested by the police for allegedly locking up his wife, Success, in a house for five days. The incident happened in the GRA area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to reports, Success was rescued on Sunday after the police received information that she was being held against her will. The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, confirmed the arrest, saying, “I have told them to take him to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The Deputy Commissioner will handle the case.”
What Happened?
Prophet Miracle was invited to the police station for questioning after officers led by DPO Abacha freed his wife. When the police arrived at his house, CP Adepoju called him directly, but the pastor denied the accusations. The commissioner asked to speak with Mrs. Miracle, but the pastor insisted he should be spoken to first.
Because it was a Sunday and he had a church service to lead, the police allowed him to preach but took his wife to the station to ensure she was safe and able to tell her side of the story.
At the station, Success revealed shocking details about her marriage. She said her husband had controlled her finances since their wedding in 2017, forbidding her from opening a bank account or having her own money. She also said that anytime they had disagreements, he would lock her up at home and take away her phone so she couldn’t contact her family.
A Secret Bank Account and a Big Discovery
Because she had no money of her own, Success decided to secretly open a bank account with Access Bank and start a small business selling water and other supplies for the church. Some church workers helped her, and they sent the money they made into her account.
However, Prophet Miracle later found out about the account. He went to the bank and reportedly tricked the staff into telling him how much money was in her account by claiming he wanted to deposit ₦500 million. When he discovered that she had saved ₦5 million, he accused her of stealing from him.
Detained for Five Days
On Tuesday night, Prophet Miracle allegedly forced Success into his car and took her to a house behind Casablanca, opposite the former Rita Gate, in Port Harcourt. He took away all her phones, preventing her from reaching anyone.
She told the police, “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.”
After hearing about her situation, CP Adepoju sent a police team to the location, and she was finally set free.
Police Respond to Allegations
Some people claimed that Prophet Miracle influenced the police in Rivers State. However, CP Adepoju denied this, saying, “I don’t know any pastor. How can I allow someone to be locked inside a house? Am I an animal? How would a commissioner of police allow that? Even a DPO would not allow that.”
The case is now with the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and Prophet Miracle is in police custody as investigations continue.
This incident has sparked discussions about domestic abuse and financial control in marriages, with many people calling for stronger protections for victims.
