The cover of the illegal healing centre at Isheri-Osun, Lagos State where about 15 chained persons were rescued last week was blown open following a distress message to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, it was learnt on Sunday.
It was gathered that someone sent an SOS to the governor on the activities of the Blessings of Goodness Healing Church situated at 26, Alafia Street, Oriofe Ijegun, Isheri-Osun.
The governor, it was gathered, forwarded the SOS to police chief Zubairu Muazu who directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Chike Ibe to investigate.
The church is an uncompleted building surrounded by dirty and stinking water.
It was gathered that most of the people kept there were desperate to go home but could not as their folks were yet to pay the bill. While some of the victims were mentally unstable, others sounded coherent and claimed they were brought there by their parents for either alcoholism or irrational behaviour.
One Adewale Adetona said he did not know how he got to the church, claiming he was just kidnapped at the instance of his mother Alhaja Monsurat Tiamiyu.
“It was one early morning while I was sleeping, I was just kidnapped and brought there.
“I was not happy staying at that church. I have my own life to live but I couldn’t all the while I was there. I couldn’t perform my daily routine. I was brought to the place without an option. I was not given a choice.
“They said it is a church but these are mad people. What am I doing where there are mad people? The only thing they used to tell me is that I was already there and there was nothing I can do.”
Denying claims by his mother that he was unstable, Adetona said if that was the case why was he not taken to the hospital instead of being brought to a centre that makes people go mad?
But Alhaja Tiamiyu said Adetona usually misbehaved and put her to shame.
“He might lock himself up in the house while people will be knocking and he won’t open up. People might be in the compound and playing, he can just start saying gibberish.”