The famous and historic Onitsha Sports Club in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, South-East Nigeria is being reduced to rubbles, 100 years after it was established.
The situation surrounding the demolition is still unclear as residents told AIT.live that bulldozers invaded the premises since last Saturday, pulling down structures in the massive premises.
The highly influential social, economic and political Onitsha Sports Club located at the heart of Onitsha North Local Government Area which parades top society players from across the globe was established in 1924, but sources said the ownership of the property is now enmeshed in controversy.
An average age man who claims to be a tenant in a neighbouring building alleged that the demolition exercise which started on Saturday, August 10 is being orchestrated by a highly influential indigene of the Onitsha host community. He however could not disclose the identity of the person.
Chairman of the Club, Dan Okafor in a telephone interview with AIT.live on Friday morning, said the “carnage” started on Saturday by 1am when the Sports Club workers sited thugs pulling down the fence with hammers.
According to him, those he referred to as “assailants” later regrouped in the day with caterpillars destroying buildings in the premises.
Though the demolition is still ongoing, some of the structures already affected as at the time of this report include the auditorium built by Senator Joy Emodi as part of her Constituency project, the Staff Quarters and the Club, and perimetre fence that stretches down to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha.
There has been no reaction from the Police, the Onitsha North LGA authorities and the Anambra State Government on the development.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
