The Anambra State Police Command has intervened in the leadership dispute at St Faith Anglican Church in Awka, urging the parties involved to pursue a peaceful resolution through the church hierarchy while respecting ongoing court proceedings.
The intervention followed a meeting held on Friday by the Commissioner of Police, Nnanna Oji Ama, with representatives of the parties involved in the dispute at his office.
The meeting formed part of efforts by the command to prevent the disagreement from escalating into a breakdown of law and order.
The police urged the parties to exercise restraint and seek a resolution through the appropriate institutional channels, including the church’s established leadership structure.
The command also emphasised the importance of respecting ongoing judicial proceedings, underscoring the need for those involved to allow the courts to address any matters already before them.
Leadership disputes within religious institutions can become contentious when disagreements over authority, administration or the interpretation of established procedures remain unresolved. Such disputes may also create tensions among congregations and the wider community if they are not handled through recognised mechanisms.
The police intervention reflects an effort to maintain public order while encouraging the parties to pursue an institutional and lawful resolution rather than allow the disagreement to escalate.
However, details of the specific issues at the centre of the St Faith Anglican Church dispute, the positions of the parties involved and any existing court orders were not provided in the information available.
The outcome of the meeting and the willingness of the parties to follow the church hierarchy’s processes and ongoing judicial proceedings will be important in determining whether the dispute can be resolved peacefully.
The police have urged the parties to exercise restraint as the matter progresses, with the preservation of public order and respect for due process remaining central to the intervention.