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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