Mob sets church ablaze over missing one-year-old boy

The Ondo State police command has said it has dispatched its officers to the Sotitobire Miracle Centre, Osinle, Akure, the Ondo State, which a mob set ablaze yesterday over the disappearance of a one-year-old boy on November 10, 2019. The mob also torched no less than four cars and some other items located within the […]

The Ondo State police command has said it has dispatched its officers to the Sotitobire Miracle Centre, Osinle, Akure, the Ondo State, which a mob set ablaze yesterday over the disappearance of a one-year-old boy on November 10, 2019.

The mob also torched no less than four cars and some other items located within the church area, as well as two other neighbouring buildings.

Our correspondent gathered that a policeman and one other person lost their lives during the mob’s action.

Following public outcry on the disappearance of the boy, Gold Kolawole, the church’s General Overseer, Prophet Babatunde Alfa, was arrested by men of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and taken to Abuja for questioning.

The DSS also whisked away nine workers of the church.

Trouble started yesterday when some members of the church allegedly decided to hold a mid-week service, which was said to have infuriated some people who believed the members were being insensitive by their decision.

That development was fuelled by rumours that the corpse of the missing boy had been exhumed from the church altar and the General Overseer had confessed to the DSS operatives that he had used him for a ritual.

The mob was set to have gone wild after some of the church members called in the police to resist them.

But the Ondo State police command had refuted the claim that the corpse of the missing child was found buried in the church.

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Femi Joseph, the command told residents of the state to disregard the rumour making the rounds that the body of the missing boy had been exhumed from Sotitobire Church, Akure.

“It is most unfortunate that this misleading information spearheaded by a popular television station has ignited spontaneous reactions from the people, leading to wanton destruction of properties and injuries to many.

“The church building was also set ablaze by irate youths. Some of our officers despatched to the scene to contain the situation were pelted with stones, with many of them sustaining injuries. Their patrol vehicle was also badly damaged. This rejoinder became necessary to disabuse the minds of many Nigerians who might have fallen for this wicked lie and propaganda.

“The public should also not be hoodwinked by any report that the command has abandoned the investigation of the incident, as the case file is already on the way to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice,” the statement said.