Father attacks church over son’s death in soakaway

Policemen in Akure, Ondo State on Sunday saved an unidentified pastor from being lynched and his church from being set ablaze by suspected hoodlums avenging the death of a two-year-old boy, Feranmi Oladeji, who fell into the church’s soakaway and died instantly.

It was leant that the policemen guarded the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Ihinrere in the Aiyedun area of Akure metropolis following distress calls after the attackers, who were brandishing dangerous weapons, invaded the church and held worshippers hostage.

The pastor and other leaders of the church were said to have been whisked away by church members.

The hoodlums were said to have been hired by the father of the deceased, Mr Oyinbo Oladeji, to attack the church.

The father of the deceased, who is a vulcanizer, is not a member of the church, but his wife, Olayinka, is a member.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased, who was born in the church, celebrated his second year birthday two Sundays ago in the same church.

A source said, “It was about 11.30am while the service was on that Feranmi and others who were playing close to the soakaway fell inside but his mates instead of informing their parents ignored him and continued playing.

“When eventually the mother asked after him and was informed by his mate that he had falling into the soakaway, Feranmi was already dead.

“All hell was let loose as the rescue mission raised by the church leaders brought out the lifeless body of the boy. Efforts to resuscitate him failed.

“Doctors confirmed him dead by the time he was rushed to the hospital while news of the ugly incident spread like fire.

“The father of the boy invaded the church with hoodlums and disrupted the service, damaged the church building and the property of the church such as musical instruments, chair, tables and speakers among others.”

Feranmi’s grandfather, Adebanji, said that the deceased was his only grandchild.

Adebanji said, “The pastor of the church where my grandchild died would have to buy a coffin of at least N30, 000, a new piece of land where he would be buried and purchase a goat before the matter could be settled and the church allowed to hold services again.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr. Wole Ogodo, could not be reached at the time of filing this report but a top officer at the command headquarters, confirmed the development and explained that investigation into the alleged attack had started.