Police Arrest Pastor Accused Of Operating Ritual Home In Ikorodu

The Police in Lagos have arrested the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry, a.k.a House of Mercy, located in Ogolonto area of Ikorodu, Lagos, Pastor Ernest Nwankwo, who was alleged to have sent a member of his church to kidnap a boy for ritual purpose last week.He is currently cooling his heels at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos.Pastor Ernest Nwankwo, who is 50 years old, is an indigene of Nsugbe, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.It would be recalled that a ritualist’s den was uncovered in a building owned by the suspect last Wednesday, with at least eight victims said to have been kidnapped from different parts of the country, rescued.The den was uncovered following the apprehension of a mother of four, Mrs Rosemary Chukwu, who hid a seven-year-old boy inside a box. She confessed to have abducted the boy, identified as Emmanuel Emeka, on the instruction of her Pastor (Ernest Nwankwo) for ritual purpose.Although details of how the Pastor was arrested were still sketchy at press time, it was gathered that he was arrested around Ebute Metta area yesterday, following a tip off by operatives of the SCID.Police sources hinted that the Pastor denied that the building on 7, Oshodi Street, where some victims were reportedly rescued, was not used for ritual purpose but was used to keep lunatics. When contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, simply said: “Yes, the Pastor has been arrested today around Ebutte Metta.”