Popular prophet, Chukwuemeka Odumeje’s church was demolished by the Anambra State Government security joint task force on Thursday.
Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries situated in Onitsha was a church owned by the famous pastor also known as Indaboski Bahose and Liquid Metal.
It was gathered that Odumeje’s church had in April this year been identified by the Anambra State government as one of the buildings sitting on drainage channels, and marked for demolition.
Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, had visited Okpoko, a sprawling slum in Onitsha, a day after his swearing-in, and pledged to sanitise the area by ensuring the drainages are free.
During Thursday’s demolition exercise, sources said Odumeje had attempted to stop the officials of the state government from demolishing his church when he was manhandled by security men who accompanied the demolition team.
https://twitter.com/foloflow_/status/1545105003236433922
A video trending online showed the cleric being shoved around by security men, including police officers and men of the task force vigilante services.
He was severally slapped and restricted from moving to the demolition area by armed security men.
The video, however, sparked mixed reactions, with many condemning the treatment of the cleric, saying it was unfair to manhandle him.
Our Dear Prophet Odumeje's Church Demolished by the Anambra State Government, The Church has since been marked for demolition by the Anambra State Government for blocking a Major Drainage Channel in Onitsha.
Odumeje Flutterwave Resign Thiago #Odumeje #Indaboski pic.twitter.com/rDXJ3uCkzV
— Kenechukwu (@kendocity4u) July 7, 2022
Meanwhile, sympathisers bemoaned the actions of the security men while some stressed that the treatment served him right as he had himself severally invaded shrines that are considered sacred and known to be places of worship by others while destroying them.
Although, the state Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo has given reason why the church was demolished.
A statement issued by Soludo’s spokesman, Christian Aburime on said the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries, owned by Odumeje was an illegal structure.
He said Odumeje was served demolition notice since April and that he did not vacate the structure.
“Following the expiration of the more than two months notice beginning from April 2022 served on developers and building owners who built several illegal structures along the waterway in Fegge and environs within Onitsha, Anambra state government has begun demolition of such structures.
“The exercise which is being carried out by a joint government task force, commenced the exercise from Bida Road by Modebe Avenue, Fegge Onitsha.
“The affected buildings include Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries, shops and other perimeter fences.
“The structures were marked since April, 2022 and all developers and building owners were served notice to remove such illegal structures,” he said.
Prophet Odumeje came to the limelight through videos of his comic preachings, and bizarre style of healing, where he imitates WWE heavy-weight wrestlers by smacking down his sick members for healing.
