Missing Child In Akure: Two Shot Dead, Journalists Attacked As Irate Youths Sets Ablaze Sotitobire Church

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

Some irate youths on Wednesday set ablaze Sotitobire Miracle Centre, popularly known as ‘Ipe to shaana’ (strong calling), Oshinle Quarters in Akure, the state capital.

It was gathered that the Church was set on fire after the corpse of a year old boy declared missing in his church was allegedly exhumed.

It would be recalled that on November 10, 2019, Gold Kolawole, a one-year-old boy could not return home with his mother after Sunday church service, following his mysterious disappearance from their church of worship at Sotitobire Miracle Centre.

Following the mysterious incident, the founder of the Church, Prophet Alfa Babatunde, ‘Ipe to Shaana’ has been arrested and detained by the men of the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

Prophet Babatunde who has spent ten days in the custody of DSS, based on a petition written by the parents of the missing child and series of agitations by various interest groups across the country over the disappearance of the boy.

CityMirrorNews learnt that two people were allegedly shot dead by Men of the Nigeria Police Force during the incident.

Besides, four journalists from different organizations in the state were seriously attacked and injured by some of these irate youths.

When our Correspondent visited the scene of the incident, some numbers of vehicles were seen set ablaze including a patrol vehicle of Men of the Nigeria Police Force.

Confirming the incident, Ondo state Police Spokesman, Mr. Femi Joseph said the church building was set ablaze by irate youths adding that some of the police officers despatched to the scene to contain the situation were pelted with stones with many of them sustaining injuries.

Joseph, in a statement he issued however disregarded the rumours making the rounds that the body of a declared missing boy, Gold Kolawole, has been exhumed from Sotitobire church in Akure.

According to him, the command has forwarded the case file of the incident to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.