The Anambra State Government has revealed that resoon for the the demolition of Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere alias Odumeje’s Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry in Onitsha.
According to a statement released on Thursday by Goverbor Chukwuma Soludo’s Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, the church was demolished as the state government commenced the demolition of illegally constructed buildings earlier marked for demolition in Onitsha on Thursday.
Aburime revealed that the state government had issued a notice to affected structures in the area two months ago and Odumeje’s church was demolished after the notice expired.
The press secretary said that several illegal structures along the waterways in Fegge and the environs of Onitsha would be pulled down.
“The exercise which began from Bida Road by Modebe Avenue, Fegge, Onitsha, is expected to be extended to other parts of the town,”.
He said that the team handling the demolition began the work at Fegge area of Onitsha following the expiration of the more than two months’ notice served developers and building owners in April this year.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that some of the buildings affected were the security and generator houses of Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere of Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries, Onitsha aka Odumeje.
According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, the task force supervising the work manhandled the Prophet who tried to prevent the workers from demolishing his structures.
“When the team arrived in the company of armed security operatives, we saw them struggling with the Prophet while the operator of the bulldozer was busy demolishing the structures,” the source said.
The source further said that the structures erected along Nwangene stream were being removed in line with the actualisation of the Onitsha Urban Renewal Plan.