Ondo: Police Rescue 50 Kidnapped Children, Arrest Pastor

By Ayodele Oni

Following discovery of not less than 50 underaged children in an underground apartment in Ondo state, fear has gripped residents of the town.

It was learnt that the incident happened on Saturday in Ondo, Ondo West Local Government Area of the state.

The children were suspected to have been kidnapped by the owner of the apartment David Anifowose, a pastor at The Whole Bible deliverance Church.

The underground apartment, located at Valentino area, is said to be owned by a church.

People are said to have been suspecting something strange within the church premises since Friday until the cat was let out.

Sources said the children were rescued from the building by men of the Nigerian police, while the pastor and some members of the church have also been taken into custody.

In a viral video, the children were seen in a patrol vehicle of the police, while they were being transported to the police station, while an unverified voice was heard saying: “They are kidnapped children found in the underground cell of a church in the Valentino Area of Ondo.

“The pastor and some members of the church have been arrested and were also in the patrol van of the police.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed that the victims had been taken to the State CID in Akure, headquarters of the command.

Anifowose and some other suspects are also in police custody.