The children who were among the 77 individuals rescued from a cell of the Whole Bible Believers Church, also known as “Ondo Church,” in Ondo West Local Government Area have refused to go home until the police free their pastors.
Some parents who visited the Ondo police station were in tears as their children, who were under purported hypnosis, refused to return home until their pastors were released.
The parents insisted that black magic had been performed on their kids, and they needed to undergo a comprehensive psychological evaluation.
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Michael Olohunyomi, the father of one of the victims, revealed that his daughter Priscilla, 21, had been refusing to eat since Saturday because she believed the pastor should be freed.
“I was a member of that church, and I was there for 32 years,” the father said.
“When Peter Josiah was appointed as the church’s assistant pastor, everything about it changed. He introduced harmful heresy,” he added
Wande Oladapo, a victim’s brother, expressed shock that his 40-year-old sibling could be hypnotized, stating, “My brother has refused to go home after he was discharged on Saturday. He vowed not to leave his pastor in the cell unattended.”
The state’s police public relations officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, said that efforts to make the victims leave the station failed as they insisted on staying.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and social development, Princess Bunmi Osadahun, said the state government was working towards rehabilitating the victims.
