Sotitobiire Praising Chapel, Osinle Quarters, Akure, the Ondo State capital was set ablaze on Wednesday by angry youths who were protesting the disappearance of a one-year-old boy, Gold Kolawole, during a church service in November.
He was allegedly abducted at the children’s section of the church and his whereabouts have since been unknown.
Already, the founder of the church, Alfa Babatunde, has been arrested; and he is in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) for questioning, as confirmed by the state Police Commissioner, Mr Undie Adie.
Residents of the area reportedly got angry when some pastors of the church started morning service on Wednesday.
This later degenerated when it was rumored that the corpse of the missing child had been found inside the church premises, and that his body had been exhumed from the church premises.
His mother, Modupe, had raised an alarm after he went missing during a church service in November.
But the Commissioner of Police dismissed the rumor, declaring that nobody was exhumed from the church premises.
He however confirmed that the founder of the church, Alfa Babatunde has been taken into the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) for questioning.
He also confirmed that a number of casualties were recorded during the attack on the church, but insists his men were only on ground to maintain law and order.
The police followed this up with a statement saying: “The Ondo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public particularly the People of Ondo State that they should disregard the rumours making the rounds that the body of a recently declared missing boy in the state has been exhumed from Sotitobire church in Akure.
“It is most unfortunate that this misleading information spearheaded by a popular TV station, has ignited a 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 dispatched 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 lies and propaganda.
“The public should also not be hoodwinked by reports that the command has abandoned the investigation of the incident, as the case file is already on the way to the DPP for legal advice.”
Since the disappearance of the one-year-old boy, his parents and the General-Overseer have been trading blames over his disappearance.
The mother of the child and member of the church, Mrs Modupe Kolawole aid she suspects foul play in the disappearance of her son.
