The Department of State Security (DSS) rescued 21 youths yesterday after they stormed a house near the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) quarters in Tudun Wada, Jos North Local Council, Plateau State.
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) told Jos newsmen that during interrogation, the rescued victims claimed to have been forcefully brought to the house and converted to Christianity.
However, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, General Secretary of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), stated that the house raided by the DSS on June 14, 2022, was under the church’s custody. He urged people to disregard the claim, denying that it was used to convert people to Christianity.
According to JNI’s Director, Aid Group, Plateau State Chapter/Chief Security Officer, Jos Central Mosque, Danjuma Khalid, the raid came after one of the victims, Abdulrahaman Usaini, who escaped from the house, reported that they had been camped in the house for eight months.
Khalid said the DSS operatives raided the house following JNI’s report.
His words: “On June 13, a group of people, including Usaini, who ran away from the house, met me here in the central mosque, saying that they had come to report an issue regarding forceful adoption and conversion of their pupils to Christianity by ECWA in Jos.
“The escapee told me that he and one Nura Usman were forcefully taken by some individuals in a Toyota Camry car from Gombe State to ECWA headquarters, Jos, and after being documented, they were later taken to a house at Tudun Wada where they were camped.
“On June 14, we reported the case to the DSS, Plateau State Command and the escapee narrated to the DSS how they were taken from Gombe to Jos and how he escaped from the house in Tudun Wada area.”
According to him, after the report, the DSS went to the house in Tudun Wada with the escapee and rescued 21 children.
It was learnt that two of the victims had been handed over to JNI, while the remaining victims were left in DSS custody pending when their parents or relatives are found.