Police in Nigeria have rescued 77 people, including children, from a church basement in the southwestern state of Ondo.

Reports say some of the people had been in the Whole Bible Believers Church for as long as six months and were convinced that they would soon witness the second coming of Jesus Christ.

While some of the people are reported to have been kidnapped, others came freely. 

Authorities conducted the raid on the church after complaints from parents.

Funmi Odunlami is the State Police Public Relations Officer