Following their rescue, a number of the 77 worshippers extricated from the basement of a church in Ondo State have refused to be reunited with their families.
These worshippers, including children, were ‘rescued’ from the basement on the premises of The Whole Bible Believers’ Church, also known as Ondo Church, in Valentino area of Ondo Town.
The church was reportedly holding a seven-day retreat when the police conducted a raid on its premises last Friday. Among those brought out were 26 children, eight teenagers, and 43 adults, some of whom had apparently been held for about three weeks.
It was the parents of some of the children, who attended the congregation without their consent, that reported the case to the police.
According to a report by Channels Television, a dramatic scene unfolded on Monday, July 4, as some of the rescued individuals refused to be reunited with their families, insisting on staying with the pastor. This led their relatives to accuse the pastor of hypnotizing them.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Ondo, Dr. Juliana Osadahun, stated in an interview with the news station that the government would hold a meeting with the police and the victims’ families to receive a comprehensive briefing on the incident and to take appropriate actions.