Ritualists Den Owned By A Pastor Uncovered In Lagos.

http://www.nigerianmonitor.com/2014/06/26/horror-ritualists-den-owned-by-a-pastor-uncovered-in-lagos/
A ritualist den owned by one pastor Ernest Nwankwo, the General
Overseer of Holy Family Ministry a.k.a House of Mercy
was yesterday June 25th uncovered at Ogolonto area in Ikorodu, Lagos,
with 8 victims rescued.
According to Vanguard , the den was discovered after a failed attempt by
a woman identified as Mrs Rosemary Chukwu, a member of Pastor
Nwankwo’s church, to kidnap her neighbor’s 7 year old son, Emeka
Emmanuel to the den for rituals.
Sources in the area said around 6.30 am yesterday, Mrs Chukwu lured
the little boy who was on his way to fetch water from a well down the
road and took him to her house where she locked him in the toilet. To
keep her neighbors from hearing the little boy’s screams for help,
Chukwu then instructed her own children to begin a prayer session
which they did, shouting on top of their voices. Continue…
Trouble however started when the boy’s mother who stays four
buildings from Mrs Chukwu raised alarm after she could not find her
son. A search for the young boy began which Mrs Chukwu also partook
in. Minutes into the search, Mrs Chukwu was said to have excused
herself, went into her house and then came out with a box on her head,
saying she was travelling. 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.
A resident of the area, Oyetoye Gbemi who spoke with Vanguard said
the area boys descended on her and she confessed it was her pastor who
sent her
“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.” he said
In the process of chasing the fleeing Pastor and burning some part of the
church building, area boys forced open a door to a building at 7, Oshodi
Street, which was directly at the back of the church building and owned
by Pastor Ernest. To everyone’s amazement, men and women, eight in
number, chained and looking frail were found in the building. The
captives upon interrogation said they were kidnapped from various
places like Ogun, Anambra, Bayelsa and Oyo states. One of the captives,
a 50 year old woman said she was kidnapped while returning from a
night vigil. One of the rescued victim, 52 year old man pictured above
without a shirt said he was a commercial bus driver and was kidnapped
two years ago.
Residents in the area said the building owned by the pastor had always
been under suspicion as no one ever saw anyone coming out or going in
during the day. They said most of the activities carried out in the
building is usually done at night.
Police sources confirmed the arrest of Mrs Chukwu while her pastor is
currently on the run.