This is not the best of times for self-acclaimed prophet, Chukwuemeka Ohanaeme popularly known as Odumeje as his church, Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry was demolished Thursday by the Anambra State government.
Authorities said the church at Bida Road, Onitsha blocked drainage.
A school building belonging to St. Dominic Parish, and a warehouse were also pulled down.
Officials of the Anambra State Joint Task Force on the demolition of illegal buildings said the owners of the properties were issued notices in April.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo had said in his first week in office that his administration will remove all illegal structures and demolish buildings on flood channels in the state.
As the demolition started, Odumeje maneuvered a security formation and jumped into the bulldozer used in pulling down the buildings.
He caused a scene before security operatives got hold of him and whisked him away.
The leader of the operation who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the exercise said they have the orders of Governor Soludo to arrest Odumeje if he made further trouble.
"This lawlessness cannot be tolerated anymore.
"These people were properly served and they refused to obey.
"It is enough that they blocked waterways with their buildings all these years and insisting that such illegality will continue is not acceptable," the official warned.
Meanwhile, residents of the area have commended the governor for being resolute in his efforts to clean up Onitsha city.
According to them, impunity in structural development had thrived due to a lack of willpower by previous administrations to tackle it.
"This exercise is proof enough that Soludo means business when he said he wants to do urban renewal in the state.
"Government must begin to look after the welfare of the generality of the masses, not minding the interest of the minority rich who are bent on doing the wrong thing.
"We are happy for this action and we pray that the governor extends the action to other parts of the state," one person said.
