A Nigerian cleric wanted by Cameroonian authorities has gone into hiding after police discovered a mummified body buried beneath a concrete slab at a property linked to his church in Yaoundé.
Officers of the Nkoabang Special Police Station made the discovery on 19 September 2026 at about 9am during an ongoing investigation. The property is located in Nkoabang in the Nkol-Afamba district of Yaoundé and is associated with Mercy of God Ministry.
Cameroon Tribune reported that investigators found a white-and-gold coffin buried approximately 1.5 metres underground. The newspaper stated: “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 founder of Mercy of God Ministry, Kedi Samuel Kenechukwu, also known as Ekedi Samuel, remains at large. Cameroonian security authorities are seeking him in connection with allegations that include human trafficking, arrest and kidnapping.
Camer.be described Kenechukwu as a Nigerian prophet who has operated in Cameroon since 2018. Authorities have alerted border police and involved Interpol in efforts to locate him.
The discovery followed reports that residents vandalised parts of the property, prompting investigators to examine a concealed underground area. Earlier related inquiries at the site reportedly found 20 people in a basement, including 10 women, eight men and two children aged six and seven.