A chain of fortunate events have led to the discovery of a ritualists den in Ikorodu area of Lagos, where the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry a.k.a House of Mercy, Pastor Ernest Nwankwo kidnapped and held victims in chains to be used for rituals later.
It began when a seven year old boy went missing after being sent on an errand to fetch water early yesterday morning. He was kidnapped by a member of Holy Family Ministry, Rosemary Chukwu, a mother of four.
Chukwu abducted the boy and took him to her house at 33, Omologede Street. The boy’s cries for help were drowned out by the mother who engaged her own children in a loud prayer session to muffle his screams.
The mother of the boy, who lived a few houses away from Mrs. Chukwu, worried about his disappearance began to search for him. Mrs. Chukwu pretended to aid in the search and suggested some areas where the growing search party could locate the boy.
Meanwhile she had placed the boy, half dead in a suitcase and was walking with her own children to go deliver him to the Pastor. Some of the area boys in the search party insisted that her suitcase be searched and it was then the cat was let out of the bag.
The woman flung the bag to the floor and began running for dear life, but was apprehended by the mob.
An eyewitness told reporters,
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.”
Another building, 7 Oshodi St, near the church was discovered and in it were several people kept in chains. Several Ghana must go bags of currency were also found on the scene.
One of the victims said she was kidnapped 11 years ago.
“The woman said she is about 50 years old and that she was kidnapped along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway while returning from a 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. I believe some of them should be with the police.
“There were also ‘Ghana must go’ bags of currencies . The area boys looted some of the things they met before the arrival of the Police.”
Another 52 year old man, still in chains, was seen in the dirty room where strange objects were also found. He remained unfreed as the keys to his chains had yet to be located.
The man said he was a commercial bus driver kidnapped from Anambra two years ago.
When asked about his abductor, he said, “do not call him a pastor. He is a killer and a ritualist.”