Pastor’s house set ablaze over death of missing child in Ekiti

By Ayodele Afolabi, Ado-Ekiti

There was tense atmosphere yesterday at Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, as some aggrieved youths set ablaze the residence of a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor, over the death of a missing seven-year-old girl.

The incident occurred at Adehun Area in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital in the early hours of Tuesday after the lifeless body of the girl identified as Demilade was found in the pastor’s house.

A resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the seven-year-old girl, who was sent on an errand was waylaid and butchered by the daughter of the pastor who was said to be mentally ill.

He said that Demilade had gone missing around 8:00 a.m. on Monday while on an errand to buy pap for her parents and siblings.

The source added that the parents raised the alarm when she did not return home and could not be found, a situation that prompted some residents to conduct a search party for Demilade, which turned out to be unsuccessful.

“After their effort proved abortive, the incident was reported at the nearby Police Station by the parents and family friends.

“A search party was launched for the girl by her parents and some residents and she was never found before her corpse was found this morning at the residence of a Redeem Christian Church Pastor in the neighbourhood.

“So, it was, later on, we heard the Pastor and his wife had gone to the State Police Command to report his mentally ill daughter’s act. I even heard the girl had once matcheted her father’s head.”

Angered by the development, some youths armed with petrol and cutlasses mobilised themselves to the scene and burnt down the pastor’s house.

Meanwhile, the suspected killer of the young girl has been apprehended in Ado Ekiti.

The lady, whose family claimed was mentally ill, was alleged to have murdered the teenager and ran away on Monday night.

It was gathered that the lady was arrested in Adehun area of Ado Ekiti while trying to commit another crime.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Mr. Sunday Abutu noted that police patrol deployed to the area has rescued the suspect from the mob who were trying to kill her.

Abutu stated that the arrest was effected based on the information given by the parents, saying the alleged culprit is in detention at the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti.

He said: “The body of the deceased had been recovered and deposited at the morgue.

“The CP had directed that the matter be investigated thoroughly. We are studying and extracting information from the suspect in our custody and we shall inform members of the public about our findings when we are through.”

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