POLICE URGE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF ANAMBRA ANGLICAN CHURCH LEADERSHIP DISPUTE
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
The Anambra State Police Command has met with parties involved in the leadership dispute at St Faith Anglican Church in Awka, calling on them to resolve their differences peacefully through the church’s established hierarchy while respecting ongoing court proceedings.
The Commissioner of Police, Nnanna Oji Ama, held the meeting at his office on Friday as part of efforts to prevent the disagreement from escalating into a breach of public peace.
The command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, noting that the commissioner urged the parties to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could heighten tensions.
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According to the statement, Ama acknowledged the ongoing court proceedings concerning the dispute and stressed the need for all parties to respect the judicial process.
He encouraged the church leaders to embrace dialogue and explore appropriate channels within the church’s ecclesiastical hierarchy to settle their differences without interfering with the court proceedings.
The commissioner warned that parishioners and worshippers should not be drawn into disagreements among church leaders or made to suffer the consequences of the crisis.
He also cautioned against provocative statements and confrontational behaviour, warning that the police would take lawful steps to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
Ama reiterated the command’s neutrality in the dispute, assuring the parties that the police would respond to legitimate security concerns, uphold the authority of the court and protect everyone’s rights.
The command urged church leaders, parishioners and other stakeholders to support ongoing peace efforts, respect due process and avoid actions capable of turning the dispute into a security challenge.
The meeting comes amid a leadership crisis in the Anglican Diocese of Awka following a directive by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Henry Ndukuba, ordering the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka, Alexander Ibezim, to proceed on six months’ compulsory leave.
Ndukuba said the directive followed reports from administrative panels investigating developments within the diocese, including a visitation team led by the church’s Dean.
He explained that the measure was intended to allow a comprehensive investigation, restore peace and promote reconciliation within the church.
As part of the arrangement, Ndukuba appointed the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Samuel Ezeofor, to oversee the Diocese of Awka and the Province of the Niger during Ibezim’s absence.
However, the Awka Diocesan Board rejected both the compulsory leave directive and Ezeofor’s appointment, deepening the leadership disagreement and resulting in court proceedings involving the church leaders.
The police had earlier denied taking sides in the dispute after officers were deployed to St Faith Anglican Church during a service conducted by Ibezim. The command maintained that the deployment was solely intended to maintain law and order and protect lives and property.
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