Until last Wednesday, Ogolonto was a quiet rustic settlement on Lagos-Ikorodu expressway. The agrarian community has however been in the news since that day following the kidnap of a seven year old boy by a 36 year old woman, called Rosemary Ifunanya who claimed that she was sent on the mission by a popular pastor in the neigbhbourhood.
The suspect, Rosemary and the mother of the kidnapped boy live in the same compound at Omoologede Street in Ogolonto. On the fateful day, the boy named Emmanuel, and his twin sister, Emmanuela, were preparing for school, while their mother was in the kitchen preparing food for them.
It was gathered that it was when the mother, Margaret came into the sitting room that she noticed that Emmanuel was nowhere to be seen. Consequently she raised the alarm which attracted neighbours.
Further investigations revealed that the sudden disappearance of the boy around 6.30 am created panic and confusion among residents. Search teams later moved out to comb the neighbourhood with a view to locating the missing boy.
Around the same time, Rosemary was reported to have emerged from her apartment carrying a big travelling bag followed in tow by her four children.
Having successfully moved out of the building, she was on her way to the bus stop when one of the residents challenged her, inquiring where she was going that early morning without notifying any of her neighbours that she was travelling.
Following the development, some residents insisted that her big luggage must be searched. By then, Madam Margaret, the kidnapped boy’s mother had started wailing uncontrollably, her pitiable sight becoming an object of pity to passers-by.
We gathered that Rosemary initially tried to resist attempts to have her luggage searched.
Determined not to let go, residents were reported to have insisted that the big bag she was carrying must be searched. As a result, Rosemary reportedly became jittery and made attempts to bolt, but the crowd prevented her from escaping. It was at that point that the bag was forcibly opened, and the 7-year-old boy was discovered gasping for breath.
According to an eye witness at the scene, Mrs Mary Alabi, Rosemary would have been set ablaze but for the timely intervention of elders in the community.
“When Emmanuel was seen in the bag Rosemary was carrying, angry youths started baying for her blood, but luckily some elders were present, and they pleaded that the suspect should be interrogated first. It was at this point that Rosemary started making the shocking revelation. She said it was her pastor, Pastor Ernest, that sent her to kidnap the boy. She further added that Emmanuel was the fourth young child she would be kidnapping for delivery to Pastor Ernest. While pleading that her life be spared, Rosemary urged restive youths and the elders to follow her to the church to meet Pastor Ernest.”
It was learnt that by then, the news of the boy’s kidnap, and the link to Pastor Ernest Iluchukwu, General Overseer, Holy Family Ministry, located in Ogolonto, Majidun, had spread like wildfire.
However, the time the irate protesters got to the church, Pastor Ernest who was said to be initially around attending to some church members was nowhere to be seen again. He had mysteriously disappeared from the church.
Disappointed that their target had escaped, the protesting mob descended on the few church members around beating them mercilessly.
One of the members who was almost lynched by the irate mob but narrowly escaped, Ejike Kingsley, described the invasion of the church by the mob as an unpalatable experience for him.
According to Ejike, the invaders comprising mostly youths were wielding dangerous weapons and chanting war songs while threatening to torch the church, adding that it was one of the elders who quickly put a call across to the police.
While admitting that Pastor Ernest was around early in the morning, Ejike however said he was baffled how his Pastor mysteriously disappeared.
It was further gathered that the irate mob was shocked by some discoveries inside the church. According to Sola Odunsi, who was among the youths who marched on the church, they were shocked beyond words when they saw some people including men and women chained in an underground chamber inside the church.
“These people in chains were about eight. They looked malnourished. Their appearance was a sad reminder of Soka episode in Ibadan where some people were chained to the floor. Immediately we saw these people, we started removing the chains on their hands and legs. But by the time we started talking to them, one of them can’t speak coherently again, but at the same time, we set them free immediately. But for the timely arrival of the police, the church could have been razed,” he said.
We further learnt that the protesters moved from the church to a three bedroom flat located on Oshodi Street in Ogolonto where Pastor Ernest used to have his siesta. Arriving the apartment, it was another disappointment as the house had been deserted.
However, to compensate for their disappointment, the irate mob set on vandalising the house. About 20 bags of rice, several cartons of Indomie noodles, and groundnut oil were said to have been carted away. A cow that was tied to a tree inside the compound was also reportedly taken away. Some fetish items like calabash of black soap, candles and cowries were also seen in the house.
While explaining how the items found in Pastor Ernest’s house got there, another member of the church, Charles, said: “As for the cow and bags of rice seen in the house, they are for feeding members of the church. Every Tuesday during our Holy Ghost programme, Prophet Ernest provides free food after church service.”
Speaking further, Ejike who said who he was still in shock about the whole affair however admitted that Rosemary, the prime suspect in the kidnap story, is a member of the church.
“Sister Rosemary, who some people also call Ifunanya, is one of us, and not only that, she is a committed member of the church. I can’t still believe it, Pastor Ernest being linked to kidnapping. I can’t believe it, I will like Pastor Ernest to come out and speak on this issue. The whole world is waiting to hear his own side of the story.”
While describing the kidnap saga and the Pastor’s name being linked with it as an unbelievable story, the Baale of Ogolonto community, Chief Yekeen Fatola said: “I know that nothing is impossible, but I’m just too shocked by Rosemary’s confession.
Again, what still baffles me is that why has Pastor Ernest not come out of hiding? If he is afraid of being attacked here in Ogolonto and Majidun why has he not turned himself in to the police immediately? If his hands are clean, why has he not spoken out even from his hiding? I want the police to carry out a thorough investigation in this case.”
While promising that the police will leave no stone unturned in unraveling the case, Lagos State Police PRO, Ngozi Braide, said investigation was still continuing. “The woman, Ifunanya, had confessed that she was taking the boy to the church, but for what reason and purpose, our detectives are continuing with their investigation. We will get to the root of the matter,” she stated.
Source’s findings revealed that Pastor Ernest Iluchukwu established the church almost 15 years ago. He was reported to be a member of the Catholic Charismatic Fellowship before setting up his own church which he calls Holy Family Ministry.
Reported to be charismatic and flamboyant, members of his flock and those seeking spiritual help usually gather every Tuesday and Thursday to listen to his preaching.
”We don’t know why they don’t open this church on Sundays, the day Christians are expected to converge to worship the Lord. We only see them on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” a man, living close to the church, who identified himself as Felix, declared.
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