Armed operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Anambra on Thursday manhandled controversial preacher, Chukwuemeka Odumeje, alias Indaboski, as he protested demolition of the church building by officials of the Anambra State government.

In a video seen by Peoples Gazette, Mr Odumeje was slapped and pushed around severally by heavily armed policemen as he sought to resist caterpillars pulling down the structures of the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry located at Bida Road Fegge, Onitsha.

The reason for the demolition could not be immediately confirmed but some reports say the structure had been marked for demolition over claims that it obstructs drainage channels around the Fegge area of Onitsha.

The now viral video has drawn wide condemnation from Nigerians who saw the actions of the brutal police operatives as typical rights abuse that has come to characterise many rogue operatives of the law enforcement body.

Police spokesman in the state, Ikeganyia Anthony, told The Gazette that the demolition is in line with the state government’s plan to rid the state of illegal structures obstructing Anambra water ways. 

“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,” Mr Anthony said. “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”

Mr Anthony, however, refused to comment on the assault of the task force operatives on Mr Odumeje.