Police Arrest Prophet For Causing Panic

A dooms day prophet who had caused widespread panic over claims that his village would be wiped out on Monday, has been arrested by Police in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara regional state.

The state-owned Amhara Mass Media Agency reported that the prophet had told his followers in the village of Ergoye that he had recently returned from heaven with a gloomy message.

“I have just returned from paradise with a message from god. The people in my area will be wiped out on Monday,” AMMA reported him as saying.

“When I entered paradise I met a woman who said she is the Virgin Mary, I also met god…” he claimed.

The statement led to residents closing down schools and businesses for several days, the AMMA reported.

Ethiopia is a deeply religious society, with surveys showing the vast majority of Ethiopians believe in a supernatural deity.

In recent years, the proliferation of quasi-evangelical movements and charismatic preachers has sometimes spawned “cult leaders”.