The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended the rescue of more than 50 children from the basement of a church in Ondo State.
The children are among 77 people who had left their homes to stay in the church in apparent anticipation of an apocalypse in September.
Some of them had been there for about six months after abandoning school against their parents’ will.
In a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, UNICEF’s Nigeria Representative, Peter Hawkins described their plight as violence against children.
“Children should not be targets of violence in whatever guise.
“Violence against children is condemnable and we call on the governments to redouble efforts to protect children against all forms of violence.
"A society's health is measured by how it treats its children,” he said.
The victims were rescued from the Whole Bible Deliverance Church in Ondo town, Ondo State on Saturday.
The following day, the pastor of the church, David Anifowose was arrested on suspicion of abduction.
The children have reunited with their families.
