A ritualist den belonging to the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry (House
of Mercy), Pastor Ernest Nwankwo has been uncovered at Ogolonto area in
Ikorodu, Lagos.
of Mercy), Pastor Ernest Nwankwo has been uncovered at Ogolonto area in
Ikorodu, Lagos.
The den was discovered on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, after a failed attempt by a
member of Pastor Nwankwo’s church, Rosemary Chukwu (Mama Ifunaya) – a mother of four – to kidnap her neighbor’s 7
year old son, Emeka Emmanuel.
Emmanuel said
Mama Ifunaya, who was a neighbour, lured him into her room, strangled
him, covered his mouth with clothes before tying him up with rope to
prevent him from screaming.
Mama Ifunaya, who was a neighbour, lured him into her room, strangled
him, covered his mouth with clothes before tying him up with rope to
prevent him from screaming.
He said, “I wanted to draw water and
take my bath before going to school when she told me to come. I went
because I know her; she is Mama Ifunnaya. But when I got to her side,
she threw me inside her room… she closed her net. She then tied me and
put me inside a box.
take my bath before going to school when she told me to come. I went
because I know her; she is Mama Ifunnaya. But when I got to her side,
she threw me inside her room… she closed her net. She then tied me and
put me inside a box.
“I wanted to shout, but I could not
shout properly. I heard my mummy’s voice when she was looking for me,
but I could not shout. She (pointing to the suspect) is a wicked
person.”
shout properly. I heard my mummy’s voice when she was looking for me,
but I could not shout. She (pointing to the suspect) is a wicked
person.”
Emmanuel’s neck had marks, while his eyes were bloodshot.
The victim’s mother, Mrs. Gloria Emeka, told Punch that she
never suspected her neighbour because while she was searching for her
child, the suspect was in her room with her children praying and
shouting “holy ghost fire.”
never suspected her neighbour because while she was searching for her
child, the suspect was in her room with her children praying and
shouting “holy ghost fire.”
She said she later discovered it was a ploy to prevent her from hearing Emmanuel’s screams.
She said, “On Tuesday morning, I was preparing Emmanuel to go to school. He told me he wanted to fetch the water from the well.
“I left him and went inside the kitchen
where I was cooking. But what I heard next was the muffled voice of my
child and I ran out.
where I was cooking. But what I heard next was the muffled voice of my
child and I ran out.
“I began shouting his name, but I didn’t
see him. I, however, observed that my neighbour’s door was slightly
opened and I entered. I met her children and asked them if they saw
Emmanuel, but they said no.
see him. I, however, observed that my neighbour’s door was slightly
opened and I entered. I met her children and asked them if they saw
Emmanuel, but they said no.
“I looked everywhere without a trace of my son. People joined me and we searched the surroundings, but we couldn’t find him.
“My landlady’s son entered the well to see if he fell into the well, but he came out and said he couldn’t find anything.”
While this was on, Mama Ifunaya was said to have sent her four kids out of the house.
More people joined the search party, while Mama Ifunaya stayed in her mini-flat apartment.
“Later, we saw her leaving the house
with a box on her head. She said she was travelling. It was my landlady
that challenged her why she could go out when everybody was busy
searching for Emmanuel.
with a box on her head. She said she was travelling. It was my landlady
that challenged her why she could go out when everybody was busy
searching for Emmanuel.
“The landlady asked her to stop, but she
suddenly increased her pace and started running. That was how the
landlady shouted, ‘kidnapper, kidnapper’, and people ran after her.”
suddenly increased her pace and started running. That was how the
landlady shouted, ‘kidnapper, kidnapper’, and people ran after her.”
The box was said to have fallen, and when it was opened, the missing boy was found in it.
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.
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.
Arriving
at the building at 7, Oshodi Street, which was directly at the back of the
church building and owned by Pastor Ernest, the residents and area boys found
men and women, eight in number, chained and looking frail.
at the building at 7, Oshodi Street, which was directly at the back of the
church building and owned by Pastor Ernest, the residents and area boys found
men and women, eight in number, chained and looking frail.
One of
the captives, a 50 year old woman said she was kidnapped while returning from a
night vigil, while another 52 year old man said he was a commercial bus driver
and was kidnapped two years ago.
the captives, a 50 year old woman said she was kidnapped while returning from a
night vigil, while another 52 year old man said he was a commercial bus driver
and was kidnapped two years ago.