Ondo Gov Speaks on Toddler Stolen from Akure Church

Ololade Adeyanju/

The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has said all stakeholders must come together to get to the root of the abduction of a one-year-old toddler Gold Kolawole at Sotitobire Miracle Church in Akure over a month ago.

In his first official reaction to the incident and the resultant burning of the church on Wednesday by a mob, the governor also urged security agencies to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the child.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye, appealed for calm on the unfortunate loss of the child, as well as the incident at the church where one policeman and one civilian were killed.

The statement reads, “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 on 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 which culminated in needless deaths and destruction of property.

“The Governor wished to state that an incident as troubling as the loss of a child requires a thorough investigation with the cooperation of all and sundry, 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.”

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