The family of late Deborah Samuel, who was lynched to death over alleged blasphemy at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, have cried out over the hardship they have been facing since relocating to Port Harcourt.

It will be recalled that after Deborah’s tragic passing in May 2022, her parents vowed not to send their other children to school anymore.

This stirred compassion in the heart of OPM’s General Overseer, Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, and he took to Facebook to announce his intention to help them.
“I just watched a video clip where the parents of Deborah Samuel said they will not be sending their children to school again. GOD FORBID,” Chinyere wrote on Facebook on May 16, 2022.

He then facilitated their relocation to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from Niger State. He also donated a mini estate, a car, and a restaurant to her parents to ensure their financial security and stability in their new state of residence.

The car was specifically intended for Deborah’s father, Garba Emmanuel, to start a ride-hailing business to fend for his family.

Well, in a new update gotten one year after the highly praised act of philanthropy, Deborah’s family have said that life has not been rosy since moving to Port Harcourt.

They stated this in an exclusive interview with Foundation For Investigative Journalism (FIJ) where they shared their struggles and challenges.

Garba said,

“People think that we are living well but we are not. OPM took us from where we were in Niger State to Port Harcourt City last year. The OPM pastor gave us a mini estate with about 14 self-contained apartments. After that, OPM rented this bedroom flat for us,” Emmanuel told FIJ on Friday.

“He said we should be staying here because we are a family and those self-contained apartments cannot be enough for the family. He furnished the apartment with the appliances.

“The first time we got here, OPM got me a car. It was a Toyota Corolla but it wasn’t new. It was a fairly used vehicle and the car has developed some faults. I was using it as a taxi before but it has some challenges and I have parked it.

“The first time OPM brought us to Port Harcourt they brought food items to us. After that first time, we have been struggling on our own. Right from the day OPM gave me this car, the car has been developing faults. On the first day I tried to take my children to school the car broke down on its way back. We towed the car back.


“I even went to the OPM pastor to speak with him in person. I let him know that the car has been developing a fault all this while. He called the person who bought the car on behalf of OPM and that person said that I did not know how to drive the vehicle properly. I have been a driver before now; this is not the first vehicle I’ve driven.

“The engine of the car is bad and I don’t have the money to fix it. I am looking for money to feed myself and my family. All the money people gave me for my upkeep, I used it on this car. Whenever I complained, the PA to the OPM pastor told me to stop complaining about the car but to fix it myself.”

Recall that in May 2022, Pastor Chinyere also said that Deborah’s family will be staying in one of OPM’s free estates where they will never have to pay rent ‘forever’.

Speaking on this, Deborah’s father said the clergyman only rented an apartment for them and paid for a year’s rent.

“From time to time, the OPM leader used to call to check on us. He paid the rent. Right now, the rent for this apartment has expired. The landlord has told us to renew the rent or leave. All the appliances and the equipment in this apartment belong to OPM, we don’t own it,” he said.

On the scholarship offered to their other children, Mr Garba said, “OPM gave Deborah’s siblings a scholarship each. They are schooling here in the church’s free school. However, the scholarships were not all what we thought they were. They promised to send one of my boys to school abroad. We were told it was going to be a European country. I was surprised when my son turned the offer down because they sent him to Cotonou instead.”

On the tragic demise of his daughter and how justice has not been served one year after her death, Mr Garba said,

“Since the death of my daughter, I have not recovered. I have not been feeling okay. It is as if there is no justice on the matter. I am just living without any other way to react. As a Christian, I leave it all to God. The way she took her Christian life, we were very proud of her. They were eight in her classroom who were Christians and they all renounced their faith except Deborah. Only Deborah stood firm. They killed her on her faith. It is a lot of hurt to deal with.”

May God be with you

1. Long story.

2. It’s sad her life was wasted. Where are her killers?

3. Were they living well when she was alive? I’ll scratch it up to being in a new environment overwhelming them.

Nothing last long like God gift, human gifts are eye service

This doesn't seem right at all.

First, the dancing security guards, then this.

When you see people suffering in poverty sometimes you don't need to feel sorry for them, there is something they lack mentally that is keeping them poor... As far as I am concerned OPM gave this family all they need to be stable, but you see this thing called ego!! It is the greatest deciever. I just pity them ... Coutonu schools is too small for his son ? Well, Dem no dey tell blind man

Helping poor Nigerians is a waste of time, effort and resources. Know this and know peace.

Why reject coutonou school?

I think something is wrong with the OPM management


There is something everyone needs to know about the Christian faith


When you give don't publicize it, because the glory will go back to you instead of God

I know it's dangerous to help poor Nigeria, but as a helper be genuine in your dealings

OPM again!

On another note! This family needs be put through serious grief therapy abeg!

eepeepook:
1. Long story.
2. It’s sad her life was wasted. Where are her killers?
3. Were they living well when she was alive? I’ll scratch it up to being in a new environment overwhelming them.

Let's try to start calling a spade, a spade. They were lifted out of their previous state to to given a better life which they are still struggling to find.

Poverty mindset can not be reset by philanthropy. The poor can not be fixed with philanthropy. I have tried many times and it does not work.

TheBillyonaire:
Poverty mindset can not be reset by philanthropy. The poor can not be fixed with philanthropy. I have tried many times and it does not work.

Ever considered that the problem in that case isn't the poor but those of you who pretend yourselves saviors-to-the-poor by your attempts to change them.

There is an old saying from before our time which says "Give a man fish, and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime". People with Savior delusion always think they are wise than even wisdom herself.

Kobojunkie:
Let's try to start calling a spade, a spade. They were lifted out of their previous state to to given a better life which they are still struggling to find.

This guy again. I’ve heard rumours about you. Anywhere you see my comment from now on, act like it was deleted.

Kobojunkie:
Ever considered that the problem in that case isn't the poor but those of you who pretend yourselves saviors-to-the-poor by your attempts to change them.

There is an old saying from before our time which says "Give a man fish, and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime". People with Savior delusion always think they are wise than even wisdom herself.

You are correct and it was their decisions on what they wanted to work with. About cars, I have bought about 10 cars for relatives. Each actually desired and requested and were provided with the cars, and not one has been without complaints and regrets.

I have provided capital for investment and just one out of a dozen is struggling to stay afloat and even complaining. The poor do not know that wealth acquisition is like Art of War. The rich ones do not sleep as much as the poor. The wealthy does not pay attention to erection as much as the poor. The wealthy does not focus on happiness quest as much as the poor.

I must allow the poor around me to suffer and alter their parasitic mindset henceforth.

TheBillyonaire:
I must allow the poor around me to suffer and alter their parasitic mindset henceforth.

This story is of a family devastated by tragedy, not necessarily poor people, if you ask me. Let's at least be mindful of that fact. I don't know anyone who has been able to bounce back sanely from seeing videos of a loved one roasted alive all because she rejected some guy that fancied her. To top it all off, the justice system in the country so terrible that many of those behind the crime are still at large.

That family requires serious grief counseling to help them overcome that tragedy broadcasted all over the world.

She died defending God and Christinity are her family is now left behind, i don't either she go to hellfire or heaven according to my christian folks, now she had caused a big trauma in her family. I may argue with you online but not offline, because i don't have to bother my self with what is not my problem.

TsbAfrica:
When you see people suffering in poverty sometimes you don't need to feel sorry for them, there is something they lack mentally that is keeping them poor... As far as I am concerned OPM gave this family all they need to be stable, but you see this thing called ego!! It is the greatest deciever. I just pity them ... Coutonu schools is too small for his son ? Well, Dem no dey tell blind man

As a Christian, I leave it all to God.

He said it himself. Instead of getting off his lazy ass, "As a Christian, I leave it all to God",

TsbAfrica:
When you see people suffering in poverty sometimes you don't need to feel sorry for them, there is something they lack mentally that is keeping them poor... As far as I am concerned OPM gave this family all they need to be stable, but you see this thing called ego!! It is the greatest deciever. I just pity them ... Coutonu schools is too small for his son ? Well, Dem no dey tell blind man

This one shock me.

cool.