11 Undergraduates Retreat Into Forest To Await Rapture
FROM SEUN ADEOYE (OSOGBO)
THEY had been reported abducted. All 11 of them. Emotions were high and palpable fear ruled the whole environment of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State where they had been domiciled before their curious disappearance.

But the search team raised by institution's authorities eventually located them onThursday night. Contrary to the wide belief, they were not abducted.

Rather, the 11 undergraduates had decided to go missing, as they were no longer interested in this "sinful world." They had, therefore, taken a walk into the jungle in search of "rapture." They had been on their search for rapture.

Unknown to many, these students, according to a source, are members of a Christian religion sect - World Ablaze Fellowship.

According to a Biblical injunction, one of the signs of the last days is the rapture of all true Christians on earth when they are expected to meet the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven.

The affected students, it was gathered, left the university campus last Saturday for the "rapture" journey into the forest towards Tonkere Village, in Ife-South Local Government of the state.

The students, The Guardian gathered, walked for almost nine kilometres into the deep forest, claiming that they received message from God to rapture.

The students not only abandoned their re-scheduled on-going harmattan semester examinations for the "spiritual" mission, they also left behind all their worldly possessions, taking with them only their copies of The Holy Bible.

Earlier reports claimed that the students were abducted by unknown people, but the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Faborode immediately raised a search team comprising the school's security outfit and some local hunters who, five days later and working on a tip-off, discovered the rapture-seeking students.

The students, two female and nine males who had been in the jungle without food have seriously lost weight and looked dirty when they were brought back to the campus by the search team.

Three of them, The Guardian learnt, were graduating students with one studying Law while another one had already completed his seven years Medicine programme, but refused to go for his housemanship.

The graduating students reportedly claimed that they were not interested in the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC), saying "life is worthless".

They were said to have subjected themselves to dry fasting and fervent prayers so that God could immediately take them away from this "sinful world".

Some of their mates spoken to by The Guardian expressed disbelief at their attitude. The Vice Chancellor (VC) while reacting on the matter described it as not only funny, but shocking.

He, however, sent for the parents of the affected students and handed them over.

The VC told the parents most of who were disturbed and unable to utter any word to ensure that the students were rehabilitated before they return to the campus.

Faborode also charged other parents to always visit their wards in school to monitor their behaviour to keep them venturing into adventures which he described as dangerous.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article02