The recent rescue of over 50 children in a church basement in Ondo State has gotten the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) excited even as they called for further measures to forestall future occurrences.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the children were kept at The Whole Bible Believers Church, also known as Ondo Church, located at Valentino Area of the state, preparatory for ‘rapture’ that was supposed to take place in April, but was later shifted to September 2022.
The rescue had sparked serious outrage among many Nigerians over the weekend, especially on social media.
In a statement, on Monday morning, UNICEF Country Representative, Peter Hawkins described the development as a crime against the children who are the future of a country.
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According to him: ‘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.’
He pointed out that society’s health is measured by how it treats its children, hence he advocated urgent need for government to investigate the alleged ‘abduction’ of the children.
Hawkins confirmed that UNICEF has its presence in over 190 countries and territories, including world’s toughest places, and is determined to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children.
Men of the Ondo State Police Command had over the weekend arrested the pastor of The Whole Bible Deliverance Church, Valentino, Ondo State, David Anifowose, and his assistant for allegedly abducting over 50 persons, including children.
The arrest followed a complaint lodged by the parents of the victims.
A human rights activist who brought the report to the police, Comrade Onotayo Omolayo, the president, Great Constitutional Right and Justice Forum, said the matter blew open when one of the parents came to report to him.
