by ‘Jola Sotubo

A young boy who narrowly escaped the jaws of death has revealed the circumstances surrounding his kidnapping.

6-year-old boy Emmanuel Emeka was abducted by a neighbour, identified simply as Mama Ifunaya, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

The young boy has said that he was preparing for school when he was beckoned by the neighbour who unknown to him had an atrocious hidden agenda.

Punch reports:

Emmanuel said the suspect, 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.

“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.”

The victim was kidnapped at the Ologede, Majidun, Ikorodu area. He was said to have been rescued by a mob, which equally beat up the suspect to a pulp.

The mother of four was said to have led the mob to a church, saying a prophet sent her to bring the boy.

Our correspondent reported that the mob forced their way into a house near the church, but discovered that the prophet had fled.

They were said to have found in the house photographs of previously missing people, mats and calabashes containing unknown substances, including a mentally-challenged man.