On the surface, Abba’s Heart Ministries appeared to be just another Instagram prayer group—one of many virtual spaces birthed during the COVID-19 lockdowns, drawing followers with late-night devotionals and “prophetic words.” But behind the veil of Bible study sessions and spiritual guidance, families and former members are now describing something far more sinister: coercive isolation, financial exploitation, and disappearances.
The most troubling case is that of Ejiro, a prominent Abuja fashion entrepreneur and the founder of stylebyejiro, whose once-thriving business abruptly vanished—along with her.
Her disappearance caught public attention when Nkechi Harry-Ngonadi, fashion mogul and founder of NHN Couture, posted a passionate plea on Instagram.
“I tried calling and sending messages but to no avail… She joined a prayer group here on IG and was brainwashed to close down her business and sell off everything she owned,” Harry-Ngonadi wrote. “Next thing was to isolate her by telling her that her mum is a witch… Ejiro disappeared suddenly, and nobody knows where she is to date.”
Ejiro’s case isn’t isolated.
The Nebaoith Connection
Ejiro reportedly joined the Nebaoith Prayer Group—an arm of Abba’s Heart Ministries—after encountering a series of targeted prophecies delivered by the group’s founder, a woman known as Joy Irokwe or Joy Solomon. She paid roughly $360 for access to the group’s exclusive “Bible Academy” and soon began changing her lifestyle and withdrawing from her circle.
Her brother, Ovie Daniels, told FIJ how her transformation escalated into complete estrangement. “She began to hide her screens when we walked by,” he said. “She left COZA [her former church], closed her business, and said God was telling her to isolate and obey the ministry’s instructions.”
Daniels also noted that she began sharing her apartment with a man named Taiye Adekanmi, another ministry member, before vanishing altogether. Later, Ejiro resurfaced briefly—angry and accompanied by two women—only to disappear again after a tense meeting with police in Abuja. Her family hasn’t seen or heard from her since.
Pattern of Disconnection
Investigation shows that several families are reporting similar stories: loved ones cutting off communication, shutting down businesses, and abandoning homes after joining Abba’s Heart Ministries.
One user, truthbetold30, claimed on Instagram that “Bishop Taye, you and your Abba’s Heart Children Ministry have possessed all my kids… The only thing my sons talked about was dressing like you, with heavy dreadlocks, nose and ear piercings.”
Others described how their teenage daughters were pressured into changing their appearance to match those of group leaders, adopting nose rings and dyed hair as “prophetic identities.”
The ministry allegedly encouraged members to:
- Quit their jobs or shut down their businesses
- Sow all they owned as a “seed” to Joy Solomon
- Abandon former churches
- Destroy old SIM cards and adopt new ones to sever outside contact
- Move in with other members
- Cease contact with their families—who were painted as spiritually “toxic”
Attempts by FIJ to reach Irokwe or other known group leaders were unsuccessful; all affiliated accounts had been deactivated by the time of publishing.
Public Outcry and Institutional Silence
Despite increasing public concern, law enforcement appears hesitant to take action. When Ejiro’s family reported her disappearance at the Maitama police station, the DPO reportedly dismissed their claims, stating she “didn’t look like someone who was taken.”
That same night, Ejiro reportedly left Abuja and traveled to Ikorodu, Lagos—again, without informing her family.
Meanwhile, the group continues to attract scrutiny for its operations. Flyers from Abba’s Heart Ministries, once frequently shared on social media, revealed weekly prayer meetings and recruitment tactics. Members were often promoted into the “workforce” after showing online consistency, a strategy that quickly deepened commitment and isolation.
A Familiar Playbook
The growing body of testimonies resembles patterns seen in other spiritual cults, such as the Shincheonji Church of Jesus from South Korea, which FIJ previously reported as targeting West Africans with similar tactics of disconnection and devotion cloaked in scripture.
Psychologists warn that such groups often prey on emotional vulnerability, offering community and clarity in times of confusion—only to dismantle individuality and autonomy in the process.
What’s Next?
For now, families like Ejiro’s are left in limbo—caught between hope and helplessness.
“She wasn’t listening to us anymore,” Ovie Daniels says. “Those people were speaking to her. She wouldn’t pick up calls or show up for family gatherings.”
As the trail of missing loved ones grows longer, the need for public awareness and institutional response becomes more urgent. Whether Abba’s Heart Ministries is eventually held accountable remains to be seen. But for Ejiro’s family and others, the damage has already been done.
#WhereIsEjiro remains not just a question—it’s a cry for answers.
