ONDO: Why Children, Others Where Locked In Church Underground - Pastor

All Facts Newspaper had reported that the victims were allegedly kidnapped and locked up in the basement of Whole Bible Deliverance Church located at Valentino Area of Ondo town, Ondo State.

A viral video shows the victims being rescued into police vans including the church pastor.

Speaking to newsmen, some of the parents of the rescued persons claimed that the pastor hypnotized their children, telling them to stay in the church until rapture takes place by September this year.

One of the parents of the rescued victims, Mr Michael Olorunyomi said;

"I attended the church before and I left because of the wrong teaching the pastors give the members. The pastors teach the church members on the need to divorce their wives while husbands are to divorce their wives if they want to go to heaven. They turned the children against their parents by teaching them what is not in the Bible.

"When I left the church, my daughter refused to follow me. I made the mistake of leaving her behind. Before I knew what was going on, my daughter who was in 300 level in the university at the time dropped out and camped in the church waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is because the pastor said that there was nothing again in the world and rapture would come in September this year. They arranged a marriage between my daughter and one of the pastors' family members. They said nobody should go to work, no school and they must do nothing other than to wait for Christ's coming in the church.''

One of the rescued victims Olasunkami Olafisoye, who claimed to be a graduate from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, Osun State, refuted being kidnapped.

"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."

Similarly, the church's pastor, David Anifowose and assistant pastor, Peter Josiah denied kidnapping and hypnotizing the victims. The pastors also refuted claims that they informed the victims that Christ would come by September

"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" Josiah said while being paraded at Ondo state police command's headquarters in Akure on Saturday.

According to the police spokesperson, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, preliminary investigation has commenced into the matter.