By Ijeoma Ukazu
The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has applauded the police over the rescue of more than 50 children abducted and held against their will in Ondo State.
UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Peter Hawkins, in a statement said violence against children under any guise is an evil that should not be tolerated.
“Children should not be targets of violence in whatever guise. Violence against children is condemnable and we call on governments to redouble efforts to protect children against all forms of violence. A society’s health is measured by how it treats its children, ” he said.
Recall that that the Police in Ondo State said it has rescued no fewer than 77 people from the case of suspected abduction from The Whole Bible Deliverance Church in Ondo Town, Ondo West Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Akure said that the rescue operation was possible following the intelligence report gathered by the Police at Fagun Division, Ondo Town.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, revealed that it was gathered that some children were 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, 77 members including 26 children, eight teenagers, and 43 adult members were rescued from the church,” she said.
Odunlami, who stated that the two pastors were in Police custody, said the investigation had commenced and the outcome would be made known to the members of the public.