‘Release our pastor’ – Kids rescued from Ondo church tell police

The children rescued from underground bunker of Ondo church has asked for the release of the pastor who was arrested for putting them there.

Recall that no fewer than 77 people were found locked in the basement of the church, the Whole Bible Deliverance Church, Ondo, located at Valentino Area of Ondo town, Ondo State.

The victims had allegedly been kept in the church for over six months before being rescued on Saturday.

The pastor of the church, David Anifowose, and his assistant, Peter Josiah, were also arrested by the police.

But speaking to Punch on Monday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed that some of the victims did not follow their parents home after the police had asked them to go, insisting that they would not go until their pastor was released from detention.

“Some of the parents said if not for what happened, they were not aware that their children have left school while some said they were aware that their children were in the church but didn’t know the location of the church,” she told Punch.

“Despite all our pleas, some of these victims refused to go home, saying they are ready to remain in police custody until their pastor and his assistant are released.

“We are trying to work out modalities on what to do to them to get them rehabilitated. We have over 10 who have refused to go home. We even have a child who said she will follow the Lord and not her parents. She said she was okay staying within the police compound since their pastor is still here.

“We are trying to work out a modality on how the Ministry of Women Affairs in the state can rehabilitate them.”

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Juliana Osadahun, who visited the police headquarters to see the victims, said the state government was working towards rehabilitating them.

A father of one of the victims, Mr Michael Olorunyomi, who was also at the police command’s headquarters, Akure, on Monday, confirmed that his 21-year-old daughter, Priscilla, had returned home but she had refused to eat since Saturday in protest against the pastor’s arrest.