The Nigeria Police command in Cross River State has halted a Sunday service at the Chapel of Redemption, University of Calabar (UNICAL), following a dispute over control of the church’s affairs.
The intervention was aimed at preventing the disagreement between rival factions from escalating into violence.
The crisis reportedly began when the university’s caretaker committee and an interim chaplain appointed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Offiong Offiong, attempted to take charge of the service being conducted by the chapel’s Chaplain, Rev. Joseph Ushie.
The development caused tension among worshippers, prompting the police to terminate the service.
Cross River State Police Command, Godwin Etim, said he ordered the suspension because of fears that the situation could degenerate into bloodshed.
“There is palpable tension, and with what I see here, if I allow the service to continue, it will lead to bloodshed in this church,” he said.
Etim said he had spoken with Ushie, the interim chaplain and a member of the church’s Board of Trustees, after which they agreed to suspend the service to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
ALSO READ: Passengers stranded as Arik Air cancels Lagos-Abuja evening flight
He said the parties had been invited to the command on Monday for a meeting and urged them to remain calm.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt restraining the university’s Vice-Chancellor and persons acting through him from interfering with the chapel’s premises and activities.
Ushie had sued the Vice-Chancellor, the university Registrar, Dr Chukwuka Icha, and three others through his counsel, Chief Mba Ukweni, SAN.
Justice Phoebe Ayua subsequently granted an injunction restraining the defendants and anyone acting through them from interfering with the chapel and its activities.
The court also ordered the parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application fixed for August 20.