88 Kids Removed From Bible Camp Amid Human Trafficking Investigation

Nearly 100 children have been removed from an Iowa Bible camp following a raid by local police as part of a human trafficking investigation, KWQC and The New York Post reported, citing police and local reports.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services executed a search warrant over the weekend at the Shekinah Glory Camp run by the Kingdom Ministry of Rehab and Recreation. Eighty-eight children were removed from the property and transferred to the Wapello Methodist Church, where they were interviewed by child protection workers. The children are currently being held in temporary foster care until they can be reunited with their parents.

Search warrants were executed at the Columbus Junction location where the Christian Bible camp is held, as well as another site about two miles away at a facility where the ministry assists adults looking for housing. The investigation, which is being conducted by the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Columbus Junction Police Department, remains ongoing.

Related: Soldier Dead, Another Injured After 'Horrific' Training Accident

WQAD8 reported that the owners of the ministry deny all allegations. The summer camp hosted by the Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation was scheduled to run from June 8–29.

“What we try to do is, we take care of adults and children who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol, nicotine,” said Victor Bawi, whose parents run the ministry. “The adults and children, we take care of them, we provide food for them. The children we separate from the adults. We separate the boys and girls. We care for them, we provide for them.”

Bawi alleges that the teen who called authorities did so because he no longer wanted to attend the camp. “We never harmed that child. We loved him,” he said. “We bought him, like, $400 shoes, clothing, everything.”

This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.