The Cross River State Police Command has halted an ongoing worship service at the Chapel of Redemption Church, located within the University of Calabar (UNICAL), amid a growing leadership dispute involving two factions of the church.
The incident occurred on Sunday, August 9, 2026, when a team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Godwin Etim, arrived at the church and ordered the service to end.
According to the police, the decision was taken to prevent a possible outbreak of violence.
DCP Etim told worshippers that intelligence available to the police suggested that allowing the service to continue could result in bloodshed.
“My duty first as a police officer is to protect lives and property,” he said, explaining that the level of tension at the church could potentially lead to a fight.
The police officer said he had engaged representatives of the different sides in the dispute, including the two reverends, the two chaplains and members of the church’s Board of Trustees, before ordering the service to be brought to an end.
He also announced that both factions had been invited to the police command for a meeting aimed at resolving the disagreement.
“We have invited both factions to our office tomorrow by 12 noon to enable us to rub minds with them, and to look at the issues raised and to see if there are solutions we can proffer to it,” Etim said.
The leadership crisis reportedly involves Rev. Dr. Joseph Ushie and interim chaplain Rev. Israel Eyo.
Tension reportedly increased during the 8 a.m. service after some church leaders associated with the interim chaplain entered the church and sat close to Rev. Dr. Ushie.
The development was allegedly interpreted by Ushie’s supporters as an attempt to take over the church, resulting in a rowdy atmosphere among worshippers.
Neither Ushie nor Eyo reportedly mounted the pulpit during the service. Instead, Dr. Glory Njar led the congregation in prayer before the police intervened and stopped the service.
The latest incident comes days after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued an interim injunction restraining the University of Calabar and other respondents from interfering with the premises and activities of the Chapel of Redemption.
The court order, delivered on August 4 in a suit filed by Rev. Dr. Joseph Ushie, directed the parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the substantive application, which has been adjourned to August 20, 2026.
The police have since asked members of both factions to leave the church premises to prevent further escalation while efforts are made to address the leadership dispute.
Post a Comment
Please drop a comment and use the Social Media Buttons below to share to friends and family.