- Police in Changamwe rescued 27 people, including 20 children, from a church suspected of running extremist activities
- The raid at Zion Fire Ministries followed reports that children were locked up and deprived of basic needs
- Officers found the victims living in squalid conditions, with children lying on the floor naked and apparently malnourished
Mombasa – The discovery in Changamwe has raised serious concerns about the possible emergence of a new religious group.
Source: UGC
This comes as the police rescued 27 people, including 20 vulnerable children, from a local church where they were allegedly locked in bad conditions.
How did the police find a suspected religious group in Zion Fire Ministries?
The attack on the Zion Fire Ministries Church, following public reports, raised fears of religious extremism like past tragedies, leaving locals in a difficult situation and authorities struggling to uncover the group’s activities.
According to Changamwe sub-county police commander, Patrick Gogo, officers raided the church after receiving information from residents who reported that children were locked up and denied education and medical services.
“We received information from the public that a woman had taken her children out of school and locked them in the church,” Gogo said.
The operation, carried out between Friday, October 31 and Monday, November 3, resulted in the arrest of seven women and the rescue of 20 children between the ages of two and fifteen.
Gogo said the scene officers found inside the church was heartbreaking, revealing children were sleeping on bare floors, covered only by thin blankets, in rooms infested with mosquitoes.
They said that many appeared weak and malnourished, with no evidence of food or proper hygiene.
Police also discovered personal belongings and luggage scattered on the floor, suggesting the group may have been living there for a long time.
“The situation we found the women and children in was depressing. They were lying on the bare floor, covered only by blankets, in an area with many mosquitoes. This was an obvious danger to their lives,” Gogo said.
Were the members of Zion Fire Ministries arrested?
The police commander confirmed that the investigation began after the woman was arrested last Friday.
During the interrogation, he led the officers to the church, where the entire group was being held.
Preliminary results show that several children had been withdrawn from school without explanation, despite national examinations continuing.
“Today is a school day, and exams are going on. However, children between the ages of two and fifteen were here instead of at school. Some of them are supposed to do their Kenya Youth School Education Assessment, but they were locked out,” he added.
The rescued people were taken to the Changamwe Police Station for questioning while detectives worked to determine the nature of the group’s activities.
Source: Facebook
Who owns Zion Fire Ministries?
Police suspect the church may be linked to extremist or religious-like activities, while the alleged leader of the church, a woman believed to be the founder, is currently in hiding.
Authorities have summoned the church leadership and pastors for questioning, but no one has come forward.
Gogo said the investigators are eager to find out how long the group has been staying in the building and if there are other victims.
Furthermore, he urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious gatherings or religious activities that seem to alienate members from the community.
“It is common for Christians to attend all-night prayers on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. However, people should be careful and avoid joining extremist groups that may lead them astray,” Gogo added.
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