By Gabriel Ameh
The Anambra State Police Command has stepped up efforts to prevent a dispute involving St Faith Anglican Church in Awka from escalating, urging church leaders and members to maintain peace while court proceedings continue.
The Commissioner of Police, Nnanna Oji Ama, met with parties involved in the dispute at his office on Friday as part of efforts to promote dialogue and prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement, saying the meeting focused on peaceful engagement, respect for the judicial process and the need to prevent further tensions.
During the meeting, the commissioner acknowledged the ongoing court proceedings and urged the parties to respect the authority of the court.
He also encouraged them to explore peaceful dialogue through the church’s established ecclesiastical hierarchy to resolve their differences without interfering with the legal process.
According to the police, the commissioner stressed that ordinary worshippers and parishioners should not be drawn into the disagreement or made to suffer because of differences among church leaders.
He called on all parties to exercise restraint, demonstrate mutual respect and act responsibly in the interest of peace, unity and the sanctity of worship.
The police also warned against inflammatory statements, confrontational behaviour and any actions capable of worsening tensions or threatening public peace.
CP Nnanna Oji Ama assured the parties that the command would remain impartial and continue to address legitimate security concerns professionally while respecting the court’s authority and the rights of everyone involved.
He warned that the police would take appropriate lawful measures to prevent any breach of law and order.
The command urged church leaders, parishioners and other stakeholders to cooperate with ongoing peace efforts, respect due process and avoid actions that could turn the dispute into a security challenge.
It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that the disagreement is managed peacefully without disrupting public order.
The police did not provide further details about the underlying issues in the church dispute.
For now, the command’s position is that dialogue, respect for the court and restraint by all parties remain essential to preventing further tensions as the matter proceeds through the judicial process.
