A popular Cameroonian pastor has died less than a week after being diagnosed with Covid-19, leaving hundreds of his supporters panicked after the holy man had laid hands on them in an effort to “cure” them of the infection.
Pastor Frankline Ndifor was also a candidate in the central African state’s last presidential election.
According to Voice of America(VOA) news, Cameroon police used force to gain access to the pastor’s residence in Douala, as some of his supporters blocked entrances, chasing medical staff away as they prayed for his resurrection.
Hundreds of the pastor’s followers sang on Sunday morning at Ndifor’s residence that the man popularly referred to as “the prophet” was not dead, but on a spiritual retreat with God, and would return soon.
Their singing and prayers were broadcast by several local radio stations.
Ndifor died and was buried in front of his residence on Saturday by workers of Cameroon’s Covid-19 response team in the city.
Doctor Gaelle Nnanga told VOA that some members of Ndifor’s Kingship International Ministries Church called him to come to the pastor’s aid when they found out Ndifor was in agony, and that when the medical team he leads arrived, Ndifor was having severe respiratory difficulties.
He said the pastor died less than 10 minutes after being treated.
Ndifor follower Rigobert Che said last Wednesday the “prophet” prayed for him and scores of others diagnosed with Covid-19, claiming that he was able to cure the virus.
“Now that he is dead, I do not know how the people that he was laying hands on will be healed,” Che told VOA.