Sodiq Ojuroungbe
A Lagos-based cleric, Prophetess Funmilayo Kolawole, has revealed how she lost five of her children in the course of enduring a series of troubled marriages, spiritual battles, and deep personal suffering.
Speaking with one of our correspondents, Kolawole, who is now in her 60s, detailed how each of her five children died under painful and mysterious circumstances, attributing many of the deaths to spiritual issues and toxic marital decisions influenced by family pressure.
The prophetess, who currently lives in Lagos, described how she was forced into marriage by her mother at a young age, stating that this was the foundation for years of hardship and tragedy.
She narrated, “My troubles began when my mother forcibly married me off. I had no supportive husband and suffered alone. No one cared for me—not my mother, brother, sister, or uncle.”
According to Kolawole, her first three children, born in the 1980s, died despite desperate attempts to save them. Her first son died mysteriously in his sleep after his hair, which had religious significance, was trimmed due to lice infestation.
She added that another daughter, Ramota, died while she was searching for her then-estranged husband, who was later discovered to be entangled in an affair that had escalated into threats and community unrest.
She also recounted how one of her children died while undergoing treatment at a traditional healer’s facility in Epe, Lagos, with the healer refusing to release the body.
“I have carried the corpse of my child out of a hospital by myself,” she said.
She revealed that her sixth child, Maria, a twin born in 1999, died after falling and hitting her head on the floor.
During her years of grief, Kolawole said she faced accusations from family members who blamed her for the repeated tragedies.
“I was told that my children kept dying because I had an evil spirit,” she said.
Describing her early life as one of “poverty, sorrow, and purposelessness”, Kolawole said she was misunderstood, abandoned, and falsely accused at a time she was already battling trauma and depression.
The prophetess said she even attempted suicide at her lowest point.
Now remarried and running a ministry, Kolawole said she draws strength from her faith and sees her remaining children as blessings she refuses to count.
Reflecting on her life, she urged young women not to rush into marriage or let family dictate their path.
She advised, “Focus on proper training, building your morals, and growing in wisdom.
“Some women lack good character, and that is why they struggle in marriage. Women should be submissive to their husbands.”
She added that beyond money or status, spiritual grounding is crucial for any family.
“One major lesson is the importance of raising children to know God. What truly matters is one’s relationship with God,” she stated.
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