A Nigerian pastor has opened up about a painful experience involving a church member who allegedly deceived him with promises of a trip to Dubai and withheld his international passport.
The story surfaced in a viral video circulating on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, where the cleric recounted how his excitement over an international trip turned into disappointment and betrayal. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
Promised a Vacation in Dubai
According to the pastor, the church member approached him with an offer to help him secure a visa to Dubai.
The man allegedly assured him that the process would be seamless and encouraged him to submit his international passport. He also told the pastor that the trip would only last a few days and was meant for relaxation and enjoyment.
Excited about the opportunity, the cleric said he informed members of his family and began preparing for the journey.
Speaking in Yoruba during the interview, he explained that he trusted the church member because of their relationship within the church.
“One of my church members asked me to bring my passport. He promised to process my visa and said I would be travelling to Dubai. He told me I only needed to spend a few days there and enjoy myself.”
Airport Disappointment
The pastor said he travelled to Lagos ahead of the departure date and arrived at the airport expecting to board his flight.
However, he quickly realized something was wrong when the church member failed to show up.
Several attempts to reach him by phone proved unsuccessful. According to the pastor, the man’s phone line eventually became unreachable, leaving him stranded and confused.
What made the situation even more painful, he said, was the fact that his passport was never returned.
“He Deliberately Kept My Passport”
The cleric insisted that the document was not accidentally misplaced but was intentionally withheld.
He explained that after waiting endlessly for updates, he eventually accepted that he had been deceived and was forced to begin the process of obtaining a new passport.
“The passport was not misplaced. He deliberately kept it. I didn’t travel anywhere. He deceived me, and he was a church member,” the pastor said.
Painful Reunion Years Later
According to the pastor, the incident remained a painful memory for years.
He disclosed that he eventually saw the man again about six or seven years after the incident, an encounter he described as emotional and difficult to forget.
The revelation has sparked mixed reactions online, with many social media users expressing sympathy for the cleric while others warned Nigerians to be cautious when handing over important documents, regardless of who is making the promise.
The incident also serves as a reminder that trust, even within close religious or social circles, should be accompanied by proper verification, especially when it involves travel arrangements and sensitive personal documents.