POLICE RESCUE 27 FROM SUSPECTED CULT IN MOMBASA , INCLUDING 20 CHILDREN IN DIRE CONDITIONS
Police in Mombasa have detained 27 people, including 20 minors aged between two and fifteen years, over suspected cult activities linked to a church in Changamwe Sub-county.
The arrests came after police received intelligence about children in distress inside Zion Fire Ministries Church, where officers found the individuals living in deplorable conditions lying on bare floors covered only by blankets, in a mosquito-infested environment.
“The situation we found the women and children in was heartbreaking. They were lying on bare floors, covered only with blankets, in an area with many mosquitoes. This was a clear risk to their lives,” Patrick said.
The children appeared malnourished and many were absent from school during the ongoing national examinations.
“Today is a school day, and exams are ongoing. Yet children aged two to fifteen were here instead of being in school,” he added.
Changamwe Sub-County Police Commander Gogo Patrick described the scene as heartbreaking and noted that the operation followed the arrest of a woman who led police to the location.
The police are now searching for a woman believed to be the leader or owner of the church as investigations into potential religious extremism continue.
This incident comes amid heightened national focus on combatting cultism, following other similar cases such as the Shakahola massacre.
Authorities continue to intensify crackdowns on cult-related activities that have endangered lives across the country