The child allegedly went missing from the church last monthImage caption: The child allegedly went missing from the church last month. Protesters have set ablaze a church in Akure city, south-west Nigeria, following unconfirmed rumours that the body of a missing one-year-old child had been found buried by the altar.
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 child went missing last month while attending the church, known as the Sotitobire Miracle Church, with his mother. 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. BBC
Pix: Remains of the burnt church
