Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, has summoned a prominent pastor in his domain to his palace following the mysterious disappearance of a one year old boy allegedly from his church last Sunday.
The summon is part of the monarch’s royal intervention to stave off trouble and unravel the circumstances surrounding the boy’s sudden disappearance .
Already, the police have arrested two people who allegedly attempted to vandalise the pastor’s church.
The boy identified as Eniola Gold Kolawole, was declared missing during church service last Sunday.
He was said to be missing at the children department of the church among 200 others present during the service.
The distraught mother of the boy, Mrs Modupe Kolawole, who said the boy was properly registered for the day’s service, said she noticed a strange person in the children’s department who allegedly might have kidnapped the child.
The agitated parents of the missing boy who joined the church in June this year, have reportedly lodged complaints with security operatives in the state.
In addition, the matter was taken to the palace of Akure royal father, who invited the founder of the Church for a closed door meeting.
Market women who had thronged the palace for the news went back disappointed as no one talked to the press at the palace.
However, in an interview later, the pastor said the news of the missing child was shocking, saying such has never happened in the 12 years of existence of the church.
Saying that he could not identify parents of the missing boy, the prophet said the matter had been reported to the police.
The founder of the church who was escorted to the palace on Thursday to honour the Deji’s invitation, said the matter was a little bit complicated.
He said the fact was yet to be ascertained, saying the place was an open place where everyone comes in and out.
According to him, “some said it was his father who brought the boy to the church while other source said it was his mother, probably one of their relatives or someone else came to pick the child only God knows.”
“Security agencies have started their investigation and they should continue with it and the culprit shall be arrested by God’s grace,” he said.
A reliable source from the palace said the parents of the missing child would be invited to the palace in order to hear their own part of the matter.
It was gathered that the missing boy was brought to the church by his mother, Mrs. Modupe Kolawole, and placed at the children’s department (Creche) where he got disappeared during the service.
Mrs. Kolawole, a member of the church, said that her family joined the church five months ago, but she had never put her son at the creche since the boy was still very young.
She added that the unfortunate day was the first day she would put him at the creche because the boy was already a year and one month old but is yet to walk.
She added that putting him with his peers at the children’s department, and seeing others walking could inspire him to walk.
Her words: “And that day I went back to check on him, I met one of the church ushers feeding him, and I left. But the second time, I went there, I noticed he was missing, raised alarm immediately, I was told to check from the 200 children at the children’ department. And till now, nobody has been apprehended in connection with the incident.”
In a telephone chat, Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph said though the parents of the boy have not reported the matter, investigations are ongoing.
The Hope
