SODIQ OJUROUNGBE examines how many Nigerians with health issues are abandoning conventional medicine for miracle cures and spiritual healing. From miracle water to divine intervention, they seek help in error

Ibrahim Adeogun’s unfortunate death two years ago still leaves severe emotional pain in the hearts of his loved ones.

His family still believes their son could have been alive if his fiancee, Mary had not reportedly taken him to a church for healing and made him abandon his medication.

Adeogun’s life took a sudden and dramatic turn one Tuesday evening when he reportedly collapsed and was rushed to a hospital in the Oremeta area of Agbado in Ogun State.

Adeogun, a painter who is in his early 30s was diagnosed with high blood pressure, a silent killer that had been lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.

After spending several days in the hospital, Adeogun was discharged with a stern warning from his doctor; stick to the medication, avoid salty foods, and return for regular check-ups.

But Mary had other plans. Believing that divine intervention was the key to Adeogun’s recovery, she turned to her pastor for help.

The pastor’s solution was simple: a bottle of ‘miracle healing water’ that would cure Adeogun’s high blood pressure once and for all.

With renewed fervour, Mary replaced Adeogun’s medical regimen with the pastor’s miracle water. Hospital visits were replaced by church services, and the doctor’s instructions were cast aside in favour of faith.

Adeogun, despite his reservations, followed Mary’s lead, consuming the water daily and immersing himself in spiritual practices.

Months passed, and while Mary’s faith remained unshaken, Adeogun’s health deteriorated. His blood pressure climbed to dangerous levels, and his physical strength waned. Mary clung to the belief that their faith would triumph over the medical concerns, but the reality of Adeogun’s worsening condition could not be ignored.

It wasn’t until Adeogun’s condition became critical that the pastor faced the harsh truth. With urgency and regret, he urged Mary to take Adeogun back to the hospital. The realisation came too late. As the ambulance raced through the streets, Adeogun’s body was already in the throes of failure, his organs giving in to the relentless strain.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, it was clear that the damage was irreversible. Adeogun’s body had succumbed to unchecked high blood pressure, and despite the frantic efforts of the medical staff, he could not be saved.

Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, Adeogun’s sister, Kafayat insisted that his brother died due to negligence and continuous patronage of some spiritual healers rather than visiting the hospital.

What happened to my brother has a medical solution. Blood Pressure is hereditary for us because I also have it, but his fiancee decided to ghost us and feed him with healing water and continue to take him to church rather than hospital.

“In fact, on the day he died, he was at the church, it was when they discovered that the ailment had become worse and they may end up losing him that they took him to the hospital.

We were all at the hospital when a doctor told him what he should be doing to avoid a rise in his blood pressure. We expected his fiancee to support him and encourage regular check-ups, but, unfortunately, she took my brother to church, and his life was cut short,” she expressed in Yoruba.

Kafayat lamented that his dead brother was the breadwinner of the family and since his death, they have not been able to recover from the loss.

She stated, “My brother was supportive and his loss was a big blow to us. We are unable to move on, especially for the fact that what led to his death could have been prevented. A lot of people have high blood pressure and they don’t end up dying, so, it is painful that he died of something that can be medically managed.”

Adeogun’s tragic loss was just one of many cases in a growing trend where people are increasingly abandoning hospitals and medical treatments in favour of unproven remedies, such as healing water and divine intervention.

It was discovered that this was not limited to rural areas or the uneducated, even in urban centres, educated Nigerians were seeking miracle cures, often with devastating consequences.

In a country where access to quality healthcare is limited, findings by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that many people turned to traditional or spiritual remedies out of desperation.

In Nigeria, the phenomenon of miracle healing water and other fake spiritual remedies has become a lucrative business. Self-proclaimed prophets, pastors, and traditional healers claim to possess divine powers to heal any ailment, from cancer to HIV/AIDS, using “holy” water, oils, or powders.

These charlatans prey on vulnerable patients, often those who have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses or have exhausted conventional treatment options. They promise instant cures, claiming their remedies are divinely ordained and scientifically proven.

However, these remedies are often nothing more than tap water, vegetable oil, or powdered herbs, sold at exorbitant prices.

In some cases, they may contain harmful substances that can worsen the patient’s condition or interact with prescribed medications.

We observed that the false promises of these miracle healers make patients abandon conventional treatment, causing them to present late at hospitals with advanced stages of their illnesses.

This shift towards spiritual and miracle-based remedies, despite the availability of conventional medical treatments, raises significant concerns about healthcare practices and beliefs in the country.

Another avoidable death

A medical doctor identified as Evelyn, shared a troubling perspective on how faith healers can adversely impact patient care, shedding light on a controversial issue within the medical community.

While in medical school, Evelyn said she was perplexed by the hostility some professors, especially surgeons, exhibited toward religious leaders.

“I used to find it strange how the professors hated pastors,” she recalled.

However, her experiences in the field of medicine soon clarified their disdain.

Her first encounter with the detrimental effects of faith-based healing was with a 50-year-old woman diagnosed with breast cancer.

Evelyn recounted the tragic story saying, “The woman, aware of her worsening condition, sought spiritual intervention rather than medical treatment. She was moved into a church compound by a pastor, who instructed her to stay there for eight months while her cancer advanced untreated.

By the time the woman’s family could no longer afford the “miracle offerings” demanded by the pastor, the cancer has metastasised to her spine, causing paralysis and severe infections. Ultimately, she was asked to leave the church and seek medical attention at a hospital. Sadly, she died a few weeks later.”

Evelyn noted that faith healers and traditional medical fraudsters can sometimes hinder proper medical treatment, leading to preventable deaths.

The medical doctor argued that this contributes to the country’s poor cancer survival rates and raises questions about the efficacy of modern miracles.

In all my years as a doctor, I have never seen a single patient with a terminal disease get healed by a pastor,” she asserted.

The allure of miracle cures

The attraction of miracle cures, such as healing waters and spiritual interventions, lies in their promise of instant and divine relief.

For many, these remedies offer hope where conventional medicine seems slow or ineffective.

In a country where the healthcare system is often strained, and the cost of medical care can be prohibitive, the appeal of a quick, cost-free solution becomes even more compelling.

PUNCH Healthwise observed that pastor-led churches and spiritual healing centres have become increasingly popular, with numerous testimonials claiming miraculous recoveries from various ailments.

It was discovered that these places often provide an accessible and affordable alternative to the sometimes inaccessible or expensive conventional healthcare system.

The blend of faith and the promise of divine intervention creates a potent mix that draws in individuals desperate for a solution.

Recently, there have been reported cases of faith-based organisations selling miracle water, oil, and soap, among others to their members as remedies for some of their chronic diseases.

One such is Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin whose “miracle” water and soap recently generated widespread attention.

Fufeyin, leader of Christ MercyLand Delivery Ministries in Delta State, has been promoting these products, claiming they can heal barrenness and guarantee women will bear twins.

But the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control came out to caution Nigerians against patronising the “miracle” water, soap, perfumes, and other products being advertised and sold by the prophet.

The agency’s director general, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said the products were not registered with NAFDAC.

Even after NAFDAC had warned Nigerians against using such unapproved remedies, findings by PUNCH Healthwise showed that many still rely on them as solutions to their medical challenges.

Contribute to high mortality

Experts, however, maintained that seeking miracle healing rather than going to hospitals worsens the ailment and leads to more complications.

Some of the medical experts lamented that by the time many of the cases are presented in the hospital, it had become worse and that only takes grace for them to be able to resolve.

According to them, the consequences of abandoning medical treatment for miracle healing water and other spiritual remedies are dire.

Experts lamented that patients were presenting late with advanced stages of their illnesses, making treatment more difficult and reducing their chances of survival.

In 2023, Nigeria was ranked the country with the 15th highest mortality rate in the world by WorldPopulationReview.com, a US-based organisation that specialises in the delivery of up-to-date global population data and demographics.

The data was arrived at after certain factors such as poor health care systems, war, conflicts, and gun deaths were considered. Other factors were demographic crisis (when the death rate was higher than the birth rate), HIV/AIDS, cancer, tuberculosis, stroke, poor nutrition, hunger, respiratory infections, and heart disease.

Each country’s death rate was expressed as the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year.

Also, the World Health Organisation noted Nigeria has one of the highest mortality rates in the world.

The global health body said the country’s healthcare system was struggling to cope with the burden of infectious diseases, maternal mortality, and non-communicable diseases.

Reacting, some health experts said the rise of miracle healing water and other fake spiritual remedies was only making the country’s mortality rate worse.

They noted that patients were dying from treatable illnesses because they were seeking help from unqualified practitioners who were peddling false hope.

A senior registrar in the Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr. Solomon Olorunfemi called for a critical re-evaluation of how spirituality and medical care are balanced in Nigeria.

He argued that substituting spiritual practices for essential medical treatments contributes to higher mortality rates.

Olorunfemi emphasised that while spirituality was an integral part of many individuals’ lives, it should not replace necessary medical interventions.

Every individual is a spiritual being regardless of their religion, and spirituality has its place. However, when faced with a medical ailment, it is crucial to seek appropriate medical assistance,” he stated.

The physician expressed concern over a troubling trend where people often forego medical treatment in favour of spiritual solutions.

He cited cases where individuals with serious conditions, such as breast cancer, delay seeking medical help in favour of spiritual or traditional remedies, only to reach the hospital in late stages where treatment options are severely limited.

The impact of this ignorance is profound. We see patients whose conditions could have been managed effectively if detected early, but instead, they suffer unnecessarily due to delays in seeking medical care,” he lamented.

Another public health expert, Dr. Kunle Hassan lamented that the misuse of spiritual practices in place of medical treatment had resulted in tragic outcomes.

He noted, “It is heartbreaking to see patients die from illnesses that could have been treated. We are losing lives that could have been saved if patients had sought medical attention earlier.

It’s a crisis of faith. People are putting their trust in unproven remedies and neglecting medical treatment. We are seeing cases of high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer being neglected in favour of miracle cures.”

Loss of sight

Sulaiman lost his sight due to advanced glaucoma after opting for spiritual remedies over medical treatment.

Sulaiman, a 45-year-old resident of Oke-Ira in the Ogba area of Lagos State, began experiencing vision problems. Initially noticing a gradual decline in his eyesight, Sulaiman chose to seek help from his spiritual advisor, ‘alfa,’ rather than consulting a medical professional.

According to close friends and family, Sulaiman believed that his deteriorating vision was a spiritual issue that could be resolved through prayer, fasting, and other religious practices recommended by his alfa.

Despite repeated encouragement from loved ones to see a doctor, Sulaiman remained steadfast in his belief that his condition was spiritual and could be healed through faith.

By the time Sulaiman sought medical attention, it was too late. Doctors diagnosed him with advanced glaucoma, a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve and can lead to irreversible vision loss if not treated promptly.

Despite aggressive treatment attempts, the damage to Sulaiman’s vision was extensive, and he has been left with significant visual impairment.

My uncle was always a very spiritual man. He truly believed that his issues were more about faith than medicine. It wasn’t until his sight got so bad that he couldn’t ignore it any longer that he finally agreed to go to the hospital,” Sulaiman’s niece told PUNCH Healthwise.

Using miracle water rather than allowing C-section

Loveth lost her life during childbirth due to complications that arose when her husband refused to allow a cesarean section, opting instead to use an unproven method he believed would ensure a safe delivery.

Loveth, 34, was admitted to a private hospital in Lagos early this year, experiencing severe complications during labour.

The medical team quickly determined that a cesarean section was necessary to save both mother and child. However, according to hospital sources, Loveth’s husband, insisted on using a so-called “miracle water” remedy, which he believed would resolve the complications and facilitate a natural delivery.

“The patient was in a life-threatening situation. The decision to delay a C-section based on unverified remedies had dire consequences. Unfortunately, Loveth’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and despite our best efforts, we were unable to save her,” the hospital source told our correspondent.

Miracle should not take over medical treatment – Cleric

An Islamic Scholar, Abdulganiy Abdullah told PUNCH Healthwise that people need to understand when to seek spiritual guidance and when to rely on medical treatment.

According to the scholar, while spiritual guidance plays a vital role in many people’s lives, it should not replace or overshadow necessary medical intervention.

“In Islam, seeking medical help is not contrary to faith. People should be able to differentiate between when they need spiritual consultation and when they need to visit the hospital. Miracles and faith are essential aspects of our lives, but they should not replace essential medical care. The two should complement each other, not conflict.”

He cautioned against allowing spiritual practices to interfere with or delay medical treatment, which could be detrimental to a person’s well-being.

“Spiritual support is important, but it should complement, not substitute, medical care. We must ensure that individuals receive the appropriate treatment for their health conditions,” Abdullah asserted.

Selling miracle water dishonest ways to gain wealth

The Presiding Bishop of Perez Chapel International, Bishop Charles Agyinasare, has said pastors who stage miracles and also sell so-called miracle water and oils, do so for dishonest gain

Teaching Christians to shun dishonest wealth and get-rich-quick schemes, Bishop Agyinasare quoted 1 Peter 5:2, which says: ‘Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind’, to warn pastors against gaining dishonestly.

The founder of Perez Chapel International insisted that the selling of miracle water and miracle oils to church members by pastors was a dishonest gain.

Similarly, he said pastors who fake miracles, do so for quick money.

For a pastor to arrange with people to pretend they are healed so that his church would be packed is for quick money; for a pastor to arrange with people during fundraising to pretend they are giving so others would give, is looking for quick money; for a pastor to say that one should bring their jewellery for sanctification and keep or take it, is going for quick money”, Bishop Agyinasare noted.

Reinforcing his point with Proverbs 13:11, which says: ‘Wealth not earned but won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use such riches will dwindle, but he who gathers little by little will increase his riches’,

Experts call for improved health-seeking behaviour

Speaking on a way out, Olorunfemi emphasised the urgent need for improved health-seeking behaviour among Nigerians and greater government support to address the country’s rising mortality rates.

The public health physician believes that while government efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and accessibility are crucial, individual behaviour also plays a significant role in health outcomes.

He stressed the importance of improving health-seeking behaviour among the populace.

Government can and should continue to enhance healthcare systems, make funds available, and strengthen the primary healthcare sector. However, individuals also need to take responsibility for their health by seeking medical care promptly and not relying solely on spiritual or alternative treatments,” he stressed.

He added that even at local levels, there are often affordable or free treatment options available in primary healthcare centres that individuals might not be aware of or choose to ignore due to misconceptions.

In response to these challenges, Dr. Olorunfemi called for increased awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance of timely medical intervention and the complementary role of spirituality in health.

He also urged healthcare providers to work more closely with communities to bridge the gap between spiritual beliefs and medical practices.

By fostering better health-seeking behaviours and ensuring that people are aware of and utilise available medical resources, we can make significant strides in reducing mortality rates and improving overall health outcomes in Nigeria,” Olorunfemi concluded.

Corroborating him, another public health expert, Kunle Hassan said there is a need for government to regulate the activities of these miracle healers,

“Some of these miracle healers are very convincing. They use psychological manipulation to convince people that their remedies work. They prey on people’s desperation and vulnerability.

“We need to protect Nigerians from their false claims and unproven remedies,” he noted.

Hassan noted that people don’t trust the healthcare system, so they seek alternatives by visiting fake spiritual leaders.

He added, “But these alternatives were often unproven and untested, and in some cases, deadly. We need to do something to address this issue before it’s too late.

The government, healthcare professionals, and religious leaders needed to come together to find a solution, one that would promote medical awareness and education, while also addressing the cultural and religious factors driving the phenomenon.

“We need to find a way to blend the best of both worlds. We need to empower people with knowledge, Only then can they make informed decisions about their health.”

THE PUNCH