A ritualists’ den allegedly owned by a pastor,
was uncovered at Ogolonto area of Ikorodu Lagos yesterday.
Eight victims who were reportedly abducted from
different regions of the country were rescued from the den according to Vanguard.
The den, which is said to be owned by a Pastor
named Ernest Nwankwo General Overseer of Holy Family
Ministry a.k.a House of Mercy, is located at 7, Oshodi Street, behind the
church.
According to reports, the lair was uncovered
following a foiled attempt by a woman to take one of her victims, a seven
year‑old boy, to the location.
The woman, identified as Rosemary Chukwu,
allegedly kidnapped the primary school pupil, Emmanuel
Emeka, on his way to fetch water from a public well one morning.
Chukwu was alleged to have kept the boy inside
her toilet and conducted a prayer session with her four children,
apparently to prevent her co‑tenants from hearing the abducted boy’s cries for
help.
Emeka’s mother, who lives four buildings away
from Chukwu, became agitated when her son did not return when he was supposed
to. She was said to have raised an alarm which caused residents to
search for her son in the neighbourhood.
Chukwu was said to have been sighted with a
suitcase on her head, accompanied by her children. It was then discovered that
the little boy was in the suitcase “half dead.”
Upon interrogation by a mob who attempted to
lynch her, she reportedly confessed that Nwankwo instructed her to kidnap the
boy.
Based on information the woman gave to the mob,
they were able to find the den. An undisclosed number of people
bound in chains were found in the building.
The victims were said to have recounted how they
were kidnapped from Anambra, Bayelsa, Ogun and Oyo states at different times.
One of them reportedly revealed that she was kidnapped 11 years
ag along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway while returning from a vigil. Another
victim said he had been kept prisoner for two years.
In total, eight people were rescued.
The case is said to be under investigation.
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