The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has commended the Nigerian government for the release of over 50 children abducted in Ondo State.
UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Peter Hawkins, who gave the indication in a signed statement to newsmen in Abuja cautioned that violence against children under any guise is an evil that should not be tolerated.
He said, “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”.
A total of 77 persons — including 26 children were rescued by police officers from the basement of a church in Valentino area of Ondo state.
According to Ondo state Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, the rescued persons are in the custody of the police.
Investigation she noted has been launched into the incident, as early findings indicated that the persons were kept in the basement by a pastor preparing for rapture.
“It’s a case of suspected abduction,” the police spokesperson said.
“It’s a church-related issue — a pastor who claims that Jesus is coming soon and rapture will take place by September and he harboured all of them in a house.”