Akeredolu breaks silence over Ondo missing child, attack on Sotitobire

The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has called for calm among
residents of the state over the issue of the missing one-year-old boy, Gold
Kolawole from Sotitobire Miracle Centre, which led to the razing of the church.

Akeredolu, who is speaking on the issue for the first time, called for thorough
investigation into the development, as he stressed that he has been receiving
daily security reports from security agencies as regards the development.

Recall that pandemonium broke out in Akure, the Ondo State Capital on
Wednesday when rumour filtered into town that the corpse of the missing child
was dug out from the church’s altar.

With the information spreading like a wildfire, youths from various parts of the
town had mobilized to the venue of the church where they set it ablaze and
vehicles belonging to the church and the police. The raging youths also
attacked and destroyed the personal house of the founder of the church,
Prophet Babatunde Alfa.

The incident led to the death of two people, including a policeman.
In a statement issued by the governor through his Chief Press Secretary, CPS,
Segun Ajiboye, he described the incident as a sad commentary.

“The Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN finds it
imperative to appeal for calm on the unfortunate loss of a one-year-old child
and the attendant crisis which occurred yesterday, Wednesday, December 18,
2019.
“Mr. Governor observed and personally noted the concern of the general public
since the incident last month. This is even as pressures sufficed for
Government to publicly make statements in respect of the missing child.
“The loss of the child in a Church, no doubt, remains heart-aching and
represents a sad commentary. However, it is pertinent to state that the
enormity of the incident could not have permitted a hasty rush to make public
statements, especially when investigations had already commenced and daily
briefs by the Commissioner of Police were received by the Governor.
“It is perhaps, instructive to disclose that Mr. Governor was being briefed in
respect of the incident by other relevant security agencies, including the DSS
until the unfortunate action of yesterday which culminated in needless deaths
and destruction of property.
“Mr. Governor wishes to state that an incident as troubling as the loss of a
child requires a thorough investigation with the cooperation of all and sundry. It
touches all, including Government.
*Therefore, it will be preposterous for people to take laws into their hands and
jeopardize a deep probe that could unravel the mystery.
“Governor Akeredolu enjoins the general public, especially those directly or
indirectly affected, to be calm and cooperate with security agencies as they
have heightened efforts to get to the root of the matter,” the statement read.