Police Meet Anglican Bishops to Resolve Church Issues

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnanna Ama, held a peace meeting with the bishops of the Anglican Communion in the state. This was to address the ongoing crisis in the church.

The suspended Bishop of Awka Diocese, Alexander Ibezim, and the new supervising bishop, Samuel Ezeofor, were present at the meeting on Friday. The meeting took place at the state police headquarters in Awka.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in Anambra State, shared this information in a statement on Friday.

Earlier reports from PREMIUM TIMES noted that the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Henry Ndukuba, suspended Archbishop Ibezim for six months. This was due to various allegations, including the sale of church land for N2 billion.

According to the primate, the suspension was meant to allow for clear investigations into the claims against the archbishop and the diocese. Mr Ndukuba also announced that the Bishop of Aguata, Mr Ezeofor, would serve as the supervising bishop of the Awka Diocese and as the coordinating bishop for the Province of the Niger.

Reports also indicated that Mr Ibezim filed a lawsuit challenging his suspension and a plan to discipline him over the sale of church land for N2 billion. However, the Board of the Diocese of Awka rejected Mr Ibezim's suspension, stating that it did not follow proper procedures.

The board even threatened to leave the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and return to the Church of England if the suspension was not overturned.

Mr Ikenga, a police superintendent, said the police commissioner met with everyone involved to restore peace. "During the meeting, the Commissioner acknowledged the ongoing court proceedings related to the matter and emphasised the need to respect the judicial process," he said.

He added that the police chief encouraged everyone to seek peaceful dialogue and use the church's established channels to settle their issues, without interfering with the court proceedings. Mr Ama reminded the bishops that parishioners and worshippers should not be drawn into their disagreements.

He urged all parties to show restraint, respect each other, and act maturely for the sake of peace, unity, and the importance of worship. The commissioner also warned against making inflammatory statements, confrontational actions, or anything that could increase tensions or disrupt public peace.

He cautioned that the state police would take lawful actions if there were any breaches of law and order. The police chief assured the bishops that the command would remain neutral and continue to perform their duties professionally, addressing any legitimate security concerns and respecting court authority.

"The Anambra State Police Command therefore calls on 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 issue," he said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the peace meeting was prompted by tension on Sunday when police operatives were sent to St Faith Anglican Church in Awka. This was where Mr Ibezim reportedly officiated despite his suspension.

There were claims that the police were taking sides in the matter due to the involvement of the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Onyekachi Ibezim. He is the younger brother of the suspended archbishop at the center of the crisis.

But the police have denied these allegations. In a statement on Monday, Mr Ikenga described reports suggesting the police were biased as misleading. He clarified that the presence of security personnel at the church should not be seen as support for any side in the church dispute.

"The Command wishes to clarify that the deployment of police personnel to any location is based on the need to maintain law and order, prevent unrest, protect lives and property, and ensure everyone's safety, regardless of their roles in the dispute," he explained.