Face of Agulu

PHOTO: Police finally arrest ritualist pastor in Lagos

Pastor-Ernest-Chukwuemeka-Nwankwo
Pastor-Ernest-Chukwuemeka-Nwankwo

The arms of the law have finally caught up with suspected ritualist pastor, Ernest Nwankwo as he has been arrested by the police in Lagos. Nwankwo, the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry, a.k.a House of Mercy in the Ikorodu area of the state was alleged to have ordered a female member to kidnap a child.

The member, Rosemary Chukwu was caught trying to take away the kidnapped child and it was she who indicted Pastor Nwankwo. The 50-year-old suspect was arrested around the Ebute Metta area of the state and is currently being detained by the police. Vanguard reports:

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. Contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, simply said: “Yes, the Pastor has been arrested today around Ebute Metta.”

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