A child went missing last month while attending a church, known as the Sotitobire Miracle Church, in Akure, Ondo state, with his mother. Alfa Babatunde, who is the founder of he church, has been in police custody, but failed to give any useful information that could lead to the boy’s where about.
Protesters eventually set Sotitobire Miracle church ablaze, following unconfirmed rumours that the body of a missing one-year-old child had been found buried by the altar, another reason why the angry protesters set the church ablaze was due to the founder’s lack of cooperation in finding the child.
Witnesses said two of the protesters were shot and wounded by police officers who tried to disperse the angry crowd.
Police said one of their officers was killed.
The exact circumstances of the child’s disappearance are unclear, but his mother, Modupe Kolawole, told the BBC she suspected foul play.
Alfa Babatunde, who is the founder of the church, was arrested last week by Nigeria’s secret police in connection with the boy’s disappearance.
He has not yet commented publicly.
BBC Yoruba’s Temitope Adedeji reports from the scene that it has not yet been confirmed that the boy’s body has been found.