Rescued Ondo church victims refuse to follow parents home

Some of the 77 persons rescued by the police from the underground of the Whole Bible Believer Church at Valentino area of Ondo town in Ondo State have refused to leave police custody.

They also refused to follow their parents who besieged the Ondo State Police Command Headquarters, Akure, home.

Daily Trust recalls that the 77 people comprised 54 adults and 23 children were allegedly hypnotised and kept in the underground part of the church by the pastor of the church, David Anifowose, and his 45-year-old assistant, Josiah Peter.

It was learnt that Peter had claimed rapture was going to take place in September, hence he encouraged the church members to stay in the church while they cooked and ate there.

But briefing newsmen yesterday, the police spokesman in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami, said despite different appeals, the victims vowed to remain in police custody until their pastor and his assistant were released.

He said, “We are trying to work out modalities on what to do to them to get them rehabilitated. We have over 10 people that have refused to go home.”

He further said the two pastors would be charged after completion of investigation.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in his reaction, said the government was working out modalities to rehabilitate those that needed rehabilitation and might take custody of the children.

Akeredolu, who spoke at the police headquarters through the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adebunmi Osadaun, said, “We just interviewed some of the children who are between ages 11 and 17.

“The way they spoke seems they have been hypnotised. They speak with so much confidence that God will soon come (rapture) and they are on a seven-day camp; that they have not eaten for seven days and they still want to go on fasting.”

The father of one of the victims, Michael Olohunyomi, said his 21-year-old daughter, Priscilla, had refused to eat since Saturday.

On his part, a brother to one of the victims, Wande Oladapo, who expressed dismay that his 40-yearold brother could be hypnotised, said, “My brother has refused to go home after he was released on Saturday. He said he would not leave his pastor alone in the cell.”

Meanwhile, the police said the church had been sealed.

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