By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Cross River State Police Command Sunday, explained that they had to halt an ongoing Church Service at the University of Calabar Chaplain, to avert a breakdown of law and order, as well as possible loss of lives and property.
Operatives led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, in-charge of Operations, Godwin Etim, had stormed the Chapel of Redemption Church located on the Campus of the University, stopped ongoing church service, and ordered members to vacate the premises.
ACP Etim said the intervention of the Police which was prompted by a festering leadership crisis bedeviling the Chapel, was a preemptive measure to avert a crisis of monumental proportion as the two contending factions were poised to try each other for size.
According to the ACP Operations, the Police Command received a credible intelligence indicating a possible violent clash between the two groups laying claims to the leadership of the Chapel.
He emphasized that the action of the Police in stopping the Church service, and sealing the venue have the blessings of the two contending factions.
“My duty first, as a police officer, is to protect lives and property. From.what I have seen, if I allow the Church Service to continue, it might lead to bloodshed in this Church
” I interfaced with the leadership of two contending factions, particularly, I have spoken with the two Ministers of God from both sides. I have equally reached out to the members of the Board of Trustees, BoT, and they all agreed that the service should wind down because of the tension you can see that has engulfed the venue of the church service.
“By our own estimation, if we don’t act swiftly, there might be a breakdown of law and order, as well as avoidable loss of lives and property”.
“For now, claim has been restored, and we have invited the leadership of the two groups to a trouble-shooting meeting at our office on Monday at 12 noon so that we can look at the issues at stake and explore possible ways of amicably resolving them.
“But in the interim, both groups have to leave the Chapel in the overall interest of peace and stability”, ACP Etim stated.
Tempers were said to have risen following the presence at the Church service of some leaders and elders who had, earlier, been restrained by the court from meddling in the tenure of the substantive but embattled chaplain, Rev Dr Joseph Ushie.
The arrival of the leaders who are known to be propping up Rev Israel Eyo as interim Chaplain was, however, viewed with suspicion by members loyal to Rev Ushie ,who consequently poised for a showdown ,a development that instantly heightened tension to a boiling point.
Amidst increasing apprehension and fears of possible breakdown of law and order, some concerned members were said to have immediately drawn the attention of the police to the situation .
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