Thugs demolish church building

Some suspected thugs who claimed to be working for the Edo State Ministry of Housing and Urban Development on Tuesday demolished a church building housing the Excellent Flow of Christ Church.

Eye witnesses said the thugs came to the church at about 9:00am in a Hilux van and Mitsubishi bus and started using hammer to destroy the building.

They claimed that the thugs prevented them from taking pictures while the demolition was being done.

Pastor of the church, Victor Chukwu, said the trouble started one week after he moved in when one of his neighbors, Daniel Eboigbe, said the church activities were disturbing.

Pastor Victor alleged that Eboigbe also threatened to ensure they are removed from the area.

He said a petition was sent to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and a notice to remove the church was served on him on November 16.

“We paid the owner on a yearly basis. Mr. Eboigbe took us to court and did not wait for the court ruling before sending thugs to destroy the church. He came and told us the church is disturbing and causing nuisance in the area,” the pastor said.

When contacted for comments, the state’s Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Frank Evbuomwan, said the building was an illegal structure and does not have a building permit.