BY CHIKA OKEKE
It was a bizarre incident on 1st July, 2022 when the Ondo State Police Command uncovered an underground room in a church where about 77 people were locked up.
The church, Whole Bible Believers Church AKA Ondo Church is located at Valentino area of Ondo town.
According to the police, the victims comprised of 23 kids and 54 others including teenagers and adults, males and females.
It was alleged that the victims were kidnapped and kept in the basement of the church for over six months before they were rescued. The Pastor of the church and some members were arrested by the police while investigation into the incident had since commenced.
Parading the victims at the command’s headquarters in Akure, the Ondo state capital on Saturday, July 2, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami confirmed that the command had commenced preliminary investigation into the matter.
She added,, “Preliminary investigation revealed that one Pastor Josiah Peter Asumosa, an Assistant Pastor in the Church, was the one who told the members that Rapture will 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.”
"The command took action following intelligence report gathered by the Police at Fagun Division, Ondo Town, “that some children are being harboured at The Whole Bible Believers Church AKA Ondo Church, Valentino area, Ondo Town”.
“Policemen were sent to the church to invite the Pastor and the members of the church on sighting the police, attacked them. Two of the church’s pastors were arrested and are in custody."
“In all, 77 members – twenty six (26) children, eight (8) teenagers and forty-three (43) adult members were rescued,” she said.
The PPRO said the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of the investigation.
Church’s assistant pastor, Peter Asumosa said that they only taught biblical teachings.
Josiah said, “I teach them what the Bible says about the second coming of Jesus Christ.
The prophecy that is being fulfilled this time is showing that the rapture is close. I never even mentioned years to the church. I never taught them to run away from their parents. I only taught them the gospel. I told them to obey their parents in the Lord.”
One of the victims, Olasunkami Olafisoye, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, Osun State, said that she joined the church because her parents didn't yield to biblical principles.
“My parents do not attend the church. When we left our former church, they usually stayed at home and before then, I was not comfortable with the Bible teaching of their church. I later decided to join this church because my parents were leading me away from God and I want to make heaven. I love the way the church followed Jesus and the way they hold onto Christ. I disowned my parents because they are leading me away from Jesus and I find the way to heaven from this church. I cannot say because my parents are leading me away from God I should obey them", she said.
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