Dozens of Nigerians Rescued in Church Basement Awaiting Christ’s Return

In Nigeria, 77 people, including 34 minors, were freed from the basement of a church by the police. For months, these people have been confined pending the return to Earth of Christ promised by the assistant pastor of the “Whole Bible Believers Church”, reports the BBC in an article relayed by Slate.

Originally, this pastor had assured the faithful that Christ would make his great return in April 2022. Then, he explained that the date had been postponed to September 2022. Thus, for months, 77 people are remained confined to the basement of the religious building, the youngest having even dropped out of school to hope to attend the event.

The pastor and his deputy arrested by the police

It was a mother, whose children had disappeared, who sounded the alarm. The police then decided to intervene to free the confined persons. But some refused to leave the premises, assuring that they had come on their own initiative to this basement. “Some say they have been there since August last year, others since January this year,” said the president of a local youth group.

The pastor of the church and his assistant were arrested.