Lagos Police Rescue 15 Inmates Chained in Prayer House, Arrest Prophet, Others

The Isheri Osun Police Station of the Lagos State Police Command, yesterday rescued 15 persons who were chained and locked up in a prayer house at No. 26 Alafia Street, Oriofe Ijegun, Isheri.

Led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Chike Ibe, the police operatives stormed the prayer house, which was used as a detention house by one Prophet Sunday Joseph.

According to the police, the raid was based on a tip-off from a reliable source who revealed that several of the inmates were chained on their legs.

The prophet and 10 others were arrested by the police and the inmates, some of who had spent five years in detention, were rescued.

In a press statement by the state Police Spokesman, DSP Bala Elkana, he said: “Acting 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 at No. 26 Alafia Street, Oriofe Ijegun Isheri, where the Prophet Sunday Joseph Ojo , aged 58years old and 10 others were arrested.

“Fifteen persons who were chained on the legs, 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, male and female. Some of them were brought by their families to seek spiritual help from mental illness and other diseases.

“The prophet said he has been in the healing ministry since 1986 and that he chained them in order to prevent them from escaping.

“Investigation is ongoing and the police are working closely with other agencies of government to provide adequate medical attention and shelter to the victims.”