The discovery of 77 people, 23 children inclusive, at the basement of The Whole Bible Church in Ondo city is another ridiculous dimension of religious indoctrination in our country. The church, which had been in existence for over 40 years became  subject of suspicion to many residents of the Valentino area in Ondo town, where the church operates recently, shortly after the emergence of a new Assistant Pastor, Joshua Asumosa.

The church began teaching several weird doctrines to its members, which include abandonment of education, career, marriage and other life endeavours to remain solitary in expectation of rapture as well as rebellion against parents and  others. This led to many members deserting the church but the  gullible ones  stayed glued till the discovery when the police came knocking.

It was gathered that some parents had been making several efforts to get their hypnotised children off the church but to no avail. One of the former members, early this year, had sued the pastor for denying him access to his child. Tip off to the police some days ago, however, led to the discovery of the people under the belly of the  church and consequently the arrest of the pastors in charge. It is  ironical and absurd that while the pastors and the church members claimed they were keeping themselves safe and holy for the rapture, used condoms and suspicious elements were found in the church, an indication of nothing but ‘holy’ shenanigans by the heads of the church.

Interestingly, many of the rescued people from the church’s basement vehemently refused to leave police station and be reunited with their respective families. They demanded that their pastors be released before they would leave. Many of the rescued children even went as far as abusing and accusing their parents of being unrighteous, refusing to follow them home. What more can we say than they have been psychologically manipulated  in the name of being pious.

This is  not the first time men and women, in the guise of clerics, will hypnotise and brainwash their followers for personal, economic and psycho-social benefits. “Jesu Oyingbo”, Reverend King, Guru Maharaji and a host of others are fine specimen  of clerics that claimed divine status to their members, brainwashed them and turned them against social norms so as to have hold of their minds.Up North and in Ibadan, there have been discoveries of illegal detention and rehabilitation camps run by Islamic clerics. The camps had people, especially the youth, chained and locked in confinements. The obsolete Almajiri system still running in the North is another evidence of our gullibility to religious doctrines.

Although religion is like a channel through which people communicate with the divine and pattern their way of life, it has become a tool for manipulation to gain political, social and economic power especially in under developed countries like ours. The emergence of Al-Qaeda, ISWAP, Boko Haram and many terrorists groups is due to misguided religious indoctrination, hence, the nation heading the Syrian way.

Worst still, religious cards have become bounties for bargains in the political process. The needless debate on the Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket shows this. Every religion now wants a share of the national cake, with prejudice to the capacity and competence of the religious kinsmen being nominated or elected.

Constitutionally, Nigeria is regarded as a secular state, with no adoption of or recognition of one religion over another. Despite the assumed secularity, religion has been one of the dictators of national laws and policies. “We need to pray for the nation,” a common saying in official and unofficial circles have replaced dignity, accountability and political will to develop the county, making reliance on religion more significant than willingness and steadfastness to build the nation.

We hereby reiterate our call for regulation of religious activities in Nigeria. Religious teachings and doctrines have done Nigeria more harm than good and it is expedient, at this critical time, for government to institute bodies and policies to regulate religious activities. Nigeria can take a cue from the Charity Commission in the UK, which screens and approves founders of worship centres before commencement of any religious operations. There is also a close monitoring and evaluation of their activities from time to time. This will checkmate misguided preaching and hypnosis of followers towards being misnomer.

The Hope demands that we de-emphasise religion promotion in every sector. Replacement of opening prayer with the second stanza of the National Anthem at public functions should be replicated in schools and offices. This protects the religious sanity of everyone and guides against subtle adoption of a religion as official in schools, offices and public places.Until every society, group, family and individual renegades and embraces humanity and the Omoluabi or the Ubuntu philosophies, ethno-religious factor might be the predictor of the next civil war in Nigeria.