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| 52 years old rescued victim in chains |
A ritualist den owned by one pastor Ernest Nwankwo, the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry a.k.a House of Mercy was uncovered yesterday June 25th at Ogolonto area in Ikorodu, Lagos, with not less than 8 victims rescued.
One of the victims, a 52-year‑old man, who identified himself simply as Onwurah(picture above), alleged that his wife had a hand in his kidnap, saying he had spent two years in the enclave. The den was uncovered following a foiled attempt by a mother of four to take one of her victims, a seven year‑old boy, to the den.
According to Vanguard, a woman identified as Mrs Rosemary Chukwu, who is also a member of the Pastor's church, to abducted a 7 year old son, Emeka Emmanuel who was on his way to fetch water from a well at about 6.30pm. Mrs Chukwu hid the boy inside her toilet and engaged her four children in a prayer session,so no one could hear him scream.
The whole thing was exposed after the mother of the boy went looking for her son and later raised alarm. A search for the young boy began which Mrs Chukwu was involved. She even went out and suggested areas where the search party could search for the missing boy. After few hours, Mrs Chukwu excused herself. She was said to have been sighted with a suitcase on her head, accompanied by her children.
Suspecting foul play, some of the area boys instructed her to put down the suitcase which was opened and the unconscious body of the 7 year old boy was discovered.
An eye witness, who gave his name as Oyetoye Gbemi, said:
“She told us she was travelling to the village. But one of the area boys who was among the search party, ordered his colleagues to search the box. “Immediately she heard that, she flung the box away and took to her heels. We all suspected something was amiss. When the box was opened, Emmanuel was found inside, half dead.
“The area boys descended on her and stripped her naked. On interrogation, she said her pastor, the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry a.k.a House of Mercy, asked her to bring the boy. “The area boys followed her to 319, Lagos Road, Ikorodu, where the church is situated, where they saw her pastor waiting for her. But on sighting the crowd, he took to his heels.
“But for the arrival of Policemen from Owutu division, the woman would have been lynched. The angry mob also attempted to set the church ablaze but were also prevented by the policemen. They, however, succeeded in torching some parts of the property.”
During the heat of all these, another building alleged to be used for ritual purposes by Pastor Ernest Nwankwo was discovered at 7, Oshodi Street, which was directly at the back of the church building and owned by Pastor Ernest.
The mob was said to have forced some apartments in the building open, where they found an undisclosed number of persons in chains.
The victims were said to have recounted how they were kidnapped from Anambra, Bayelsa, Ogun and Oyo states at different times. One of them, according to eye witnesses, who pleaded anonymity, said she was kidnapped 11 years ago.
One of the captives, a 50 year old woman said she was kidnapped while returning from a night vigil.
“The rest were males and were wearing briefs. They looked haggard and tired. The area boys set them free when they opened the apartments.
One of the rescued victim, 52 year old man seen in chains said that he was kidnapped two years ago from Anambra State. He said he used to be a commercial bus driver before he was abducted and brought to Lagos.
A community leader in the area who identified himself as Alfa Olajide Odeji, said that the building on Oshodi Street was always under lock and key. He said there were unusual movements there at night. His claim was collaborated by another community leader who gave his name as Elder Sikiru Odebowale.
Efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide failed. However, Police sources confirmed that the female suspect was in Police custody and that the seven-year‑old boy had been taken to a hospital.
His condition could, however, not be ascertained. Also, Pastor Ernest Nwankwo was said to be on the run.
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