A popular church in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State, Sotitobire Miracle Centre, was on Wednesday morning razed by angry youths in the community over the disappearance of a child of one the members.

WuzupNigeria reports that the founder of the church, Prophet Alfa Babatunde, was accused of kidnapping for alleged ritual purposes a one-year-old boy, Eniola Kolawole. The cleric has, since, been arrested by the Department of State Security(DSS) in Akure.

However, following reports that the corpse of the missing child was exhumed at the altar of the church some angry youths stormed the church but found the news to be false.

However, an eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said people were baffled when police officers attached to B Division Station, Akure, arrived and began to beat residents and chase them away from the church.

“There was a rumour that the child was found at the altar of the church as early as 6:00am, I rushed to the church”, SaharaReporters quoted the witness as saying.

“By the time I got there, we began to ask questions then we discovered that it was a rumour but the rumour had filtered through the community.

“Residents of the community all trooped to the church.

“In a twinkle of an eye, armed policemen began attacking residents including journalists who also came to do their job.

“In retaliation, angry community members set the church ablaze.”

It would be recalled that the mother of the boy, Mrs Modupe Kolawole, following Eniola’s disappearance had said that she suspected foul play.

Mrs. Kolawole explained that the children’s department of the church, where her son went missing is being mounted by 14 teachers, adding that some of the members of the church told her that they saw her son in the vehicle of the church’s founder, Prophet Babatunde Alfa.

She further alleged that when the issue was raised with the Prophet, he showed no remorse as he did nothing to help in the search for her son.

WuzupNigeria further reports that there are insinuations that some influential people are working tirelessly to secure the release of the accused prophet from custody.