TIMELY intervention of Mobile policemen in Akure, the Ondo state capital, last Sunday saved a Pastor from being lynched and his church set ablaze by some hoodlums protesting the death of a two-year-old boy, Feranmi Oladeji, who died inside the church septic tank.
About 30 mobile policemen were promptly deployed to the Christ Apostolic Church, C A C, Oke Ihinrere in Aiyedun area of Akure metropolis,Sunday, following distress calls as the thugs invaded the area and held worshippers hostage.
The Pastor whose identity was kept secret and other leaders of the church were shielded by church members when the hoodlums invaded the place.
Within an hour, the church became a Mecca of sort, as people raced there to witness the development.
The father of the deceased said to be an artisan does not attend the church but his wife, Olayinka, does.
Vanguard gathered that the deceased was born and christened in the church and celebrated his second birthday two Sundays before the incident in the same church.
It was gathered that on Sunday, at about 11.30 a.m. while the service was on, the deceased and other children were playing close to the septic tank and when Feranmi fell inside it, his mates instead of informing their parents ignored him and continued playing.
When eventually his mother asked after him and was informed by his mates that he fell inside the septic tank, Feranmi was already stone dead.
Hell was let loose as the rescue mission raised by the church leaders brought out the lifeless body of the boy while efforts to apply first aid failed.
Doctors confirmed him dead by the time he was rushed to a hospital.
Vanguard gathered that the pastor is currently under police protective custody.
Mobile policemen, at press time, were still keeping vigil in the church while the entrance to the church was under lock and key.
The state police command confirmed the death of the boy and said his body had been deposited at the state specialist hospital in Akure.
The Police image-maker, Wole Ogodo, who said peace had returned to the area, however, noted that the pastor would be invited for questioning.