Police rescue 15 chained in Lagos house of torture

By Chioma Joseph 
No fewer than15 persons, chained and camped in a supposed prayer house, have been rescued by operatives of the Isheri Osun Police Station, Lagos State Police Command. 

The operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Chike Ibe, stormed the prayer house at No. 26 Alafia Street, Oriofe Ijegun Isheri, on Wednesday, October 30, 2019. 

Owner of the prayer house, Prophet Sunday Joseph Ojo, 50, and 10 others were arrested in connection with the house of torture. 

Confirming the rescue of the victims, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the prophet confessed to have being running the said prayer house since 1986. 

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Bala said the prophet had also stated that the victims were chained in order to prevent escape. 
 Bala said the rescued victims were between ages 19 and 50. He said: “ Based on information from a reliable source, a team of detectives from Isheri Osun Police Station led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Chike Ibe, stormed a prayer house used as detention camp.

“ 15 persons who were chained on the leg,  were rescued. Some of the victims were said to have spent five years in the detention camp.

The victims are between ages 19 and 50, males and females. Some of them were brought by their families to seek spiritual help from mental illness and other diseases.” 

Investigation is said to be ongoing, as the police are working closely with other agencies of government to provide adequate medical attention and shelter to the victims.