The Ondo State Police Command says 77 worshippers were rescued from an underground apartment of The Whole Bible Believers Church in the Valentino area of Ondo town, Ondo State.

The Star had earlier reported that the children, who were found on Friday, were allegedly kidnapped and kept in the underground apartment of the church.

However, the command, in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, said 77 worshippers, including 43 adults, 26 children, and eight teenagers were rescued by the police operatives.

Odunlami stated that the victims were kept in an underground confinement following a strange teachings by one of the pastors in the church.

According to the police spokesperson, one Pastor Josiah Peter Asumosa, an assistant pastor in the church, told the members that Rapture would take place in April but later said it has been changed to September 2022, and told the young members to obey only their “parents in the Lord”.

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She added that another family, who was also around during the rescue of the victims, said their daughter, a part 3 student, dropped out of school due to the strange teachings of the pastor and left home in January 2022 to start living in the church.

She disclosed that policemen were sent to the church to invite the pastor, noting that the members of the church, on sighting the police officers, attacked them.

Odunlami, however, said the two pastors were arrested by the police.

“Investigation has commenced and the outcome will be made known to the members of the public,” the police spokesperson stated.

The Star