The Ondo State Police Command has put the total number of those rescued from an underground apartment of a church building at Ondo Town at 77.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, Odunlami Funmilayo, a Superintendent of Police said those rescued comprised twenty Six (26) children, Eight (8) teenagers and Forty Three (43) adult members.
Odunlami also said in a statement on Saturday night that the police have arrested two pastors of the church, identified as Whole Bible Believers Church AKA ONDO CHURCH, at Valentino area, Ondo Town.
She said that police investigation revealed that the young people and some members were in the basement apartment in obedience to the sermon of an Assistant Pastor of the Church, Josiah Peter Asumosa, that rapture would take place in April.
She said that the purported Pastor who who later told his gullible congregation that the date of the rapture had been postponed to September told the young members to obey only church leaders and not their parents.
However, the Network gathered that the Police has commenced investigation into a case of suspected abduction.
“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.
“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.
“Another family who was also around during the rescue 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.
“In all, Seventy seven (77) members – Twenty Six (26) children, Eight (8) teenagers and Forty Three (43) adult members were rescued
from the Church.
“The two (2) Pastors are in Police custody.
“Investigation has commenced and the outcome will be made known to the members of the Public.” The statement read
