As their children, who were allegedly under hypnosis, refused to go home unless their pastors were released, some parents who visited the Ondo police station were in tears.

The parents argued that their children had been subjected to black magic and that a thorough psychological evaluation was needed.

Michael Olohunyomi, the father of one of the victims, revealed that his daughter Priscilla, 21, had been refusing to eat since Saturday because she believed the pastor should be freed.

“I was a member of that church, and I was there for 32 years,” the father said.

“When Peter Josiah was appointed as the church’s assistant pastor, everything about it changed. He introduced harmful heresy,” he added

Wande Oladapo, a victim’s brother, expressed shock that his 40-year-old sibling could be hypnotized, stating, “My brother has refused to go home after he was discharged on Saturday. He vowed not to leave his pastor in the cell unattended.”

Funmilayo Odunlami, the state’s police public relations officer, claimed that attempts to get the victims to leave the station were unsuccessful as they insisted on staying.

Princess Bunmi Osadahun, the state commissioner for women’s affairs and social development, stated that the victims’ rehabilitation was a priority for the state administration.